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FLORA    M  KC  lx  INALD 


FLORA  MACDONALD  IN 
AMERICA 


'itn 


Brief   Sketch  of  Her  Life  and  Adventures 


by 


J.  P.  MACLEAN,  PkD. 

Life   Member    Gaelic   Society  of   Glasgow,    and   Clan   MacLean   Association   of 

Glasgow ;     Corresponding    Member    Davenport    Academy    of    Sciences,    and 

Western  Reserve  Historical  Society ;  Author  of  History  of  Clan  MacLean, 

Scotch   Highlanders  in   America,   Antiquity  of   Man,  the  Mound 

Builders,  Mastodon,  Mammoth  and  Man,  Norse  Discovery 

of    America,    Fingal's    Cave,    Introduction    Study    of 

St.    John's    Gospel,    Shakers   of    Ohio,    Jewish 

Nature   Worship,    Life  of  Richard   Mc- 

Nemar,  Bibliography  of  Shaker 

Literature,  Etc. 


'Mid  the  pomp  of  huge  London  her  heart  still  was  yearning 
For  her  home  in  the  corrie,  the  crag,  and  the  glen; 
Though  fair  be  the  daughters  of  England,  the  fairest 
And  stateliest  walks  in  the  land  of  the  Ben. 


Lumberton,   N.   C. 

A.   W.  McLean 

1909 


HIGHLAND    ARMS 


To 

ANGUS  WILTON  McLEAN,  Esq.. 

of 
Lumberto.n,   North  Carolina 

Whose  ancestors 
bore  an  important  part  in  the  scenes  wherein 

Flora   MacDonald 

was  a  chief  actor  in  North   Carolina 
and  who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  things  pertaining 
to  that  event,  as  well  as  those  relating  to  the  Highlands 
of  Scotland  and  his  own  distinguished  clan,  besides 
being  busily  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law 
and  the  development  of  the  natural  re- 
sources of  his  native  State,  this 
volume  is  respectfully 
dedicated  by 

The  Author 


o 
o 

<Q 
o 

t 


The   Lament  of  Flora    MacDonald 

Far  over  yon  hills  of  the  heather  so  green, 

And  down  hy  the  corrie  that  sings  to  the  sea, 
The  bonnie  young  Flora  sat  sighing  her  lane, 

The  dew  on  her  plaid,  and  the  tear  in  her  e'e. 
She  looked  at  a  boat  with  the  breezes  that  swung 

Away  on  the  wave,  like  a  bird  of  the  main ; 
And  aye  as  it  lessened,  she  sighed  and  she  sung, 

"Farewell  to  the  lad  I  shall  ne'er  see  again ! 
Farewell  to  my  hero,  the  gallant  and  young! 

Farewell  to  the  lad  I  shall  ne'er  see  again. 

"The  moorcock  that  crows  on  the  brow  of  Ben-Connal, 

He  kens  o'  his  bed  in  a  sweet  mossy  hame, 
The  eagle  that  soars  o'er  the  cliffs  o'  Clan-Ronald, 

Unawed  and  unhunted,  his  eyrie  can  claim, 
The  solan  can  sleep  on  his  shelf  of  the  shore, 

The  cormorant  roost  on  his  rock  of  the  sea ; 
But,  oh!  there  is  ane  whose  hard  fate  I  deplore; 

Nor  house,  ha',  nor  hame,  in  his  country  has  he. 
The  conflict  is  past,  and  our  name  is  no  more : 

There  's  naught  left  but  sorrow  for  Scotland  and  me. 

"The  target  is  torn  from  the  arms  of  the  just, 
The  helmet  is  cleft  on  the  brow  of  the  brave, 
The  claymore  forever  in  darkness  must  rust, 

But  red  is  the  sword  of  the  stranger  and  slave; 
The  hoof  of  the  horse,  and  the  foot  of  the  proud 

Have  trode  o'er  the  plumes  on  the  bonnet  of  blue. 
Why  slept  the  red  bolt  in  the  breast  of  the  cloud, 

When  tyranny  reveled  in  blood  of  the  true? 
Farewell,  my  young  hero,  the  gallant  and  good, 

The  crown  of  thy  fathers  is  torn  from  thy  brow." 

— James  Higg. 


Tabic   of   Contents 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE 

Introductory  Note 7 

CHAPTER    II. 
Flora  MacDonald's  Early  Life 10 

CHAPTER    III. 
Flora  MacDonald  Becomes  Famous 12 

CHAPTER    IV. 
Marriage  and  Person 22 

CHAPTER    V. 
Financial  Embarrassment  of  Allen  MacDonald 27 

CHAPTER    VI. 
Flora  MacDonald  Removes  to  America 28 

CHAPTER    VII 
Rising  of  the  Highlanders  in  1776 35 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
Battle  of  Widow  Moore's  Creek  Bridge 57 

CHAPTER    IX. 
Results  of  the  Battle 64 

CHAPTER    X. 
Final  Trials  of  Flora  MacDonald 77 


CAVE  IN   SKYE  OCCUPIED  BY   PRINCE   CHARLES  JUST   BEFORE 

LEAVING    FOR    RAASAY 


I  I'l .  'Ill 


FL<  »RA     MAC  ]><  /NAI.M 
Allan    Ramsay's    Painting    from 


ji.  I 


Flora  MacDonald   in   America 


CHAPTER    I. 
Introductory  Note. 

Flora  MacDonald  needs  no  introduction  to  all  true  lovers  of  High- 
land Scotch  history.  It  is  superfluous  to  pass  an  eulogium  on  her 
character,  or  sing  her  praises.  She  lives,  and  will  continue  to  live 
in  the  hearts  of  all  who  are  able  to  appreciate  disinterested  heroism 
of  an  exalted  type.  Her  countrymen  had  just  been  defeated  while 
engaged  in  the  greatest  act  of  chivalry  the  world  had  ever  witnessed. 
It  was  befitting  that  a  woman  of  true  nobility  of  character  should  be 
called  on  to  bear  a  part,  daring,  heroic,  and  romantic.  Her  character 
has  been  extolled;  her  praises  embalmed  in  song;  her  heroism  depicted 
as  an  example  to  be  imitated,  and  her  patriotism  to  be  admired.  Withal, 
a  person  to  be  loved  for  her  womanly  virtues,  which  must  be  regarded 
as  a  just  pattern  of  excellence. 

The  admiration  and  esteem  for  Flora  MacDonald  are  largely  due 
to  an  act  on  her  part  which  took  place  between  June  26  and  30,  1746, 
when,  at  a  critical  period,  she  saved  Prince  Charles  Edward  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Even  a  stranger  story  remains 
here  to  be  told.  Her  act  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  embellished  in 
story  and  song,  has  long  overshadowed  a  greater  and  more  deliberate 
heroism  performed  at  the  ripe  age  of  fifty-four.  This  has  been  passed 
over,  or  else  referred  to  only  incidentally.  Flora  MacDonald  was  a 
greater  power  and  a  more  commanding  figure  during  her  residence 
in  America  than  when  she  displayed  her  heroism  by  saving  the  life  of 
him  who  brought  countless  woes  upon  her  countrymen  and  hurled 
many  valiant  souls  down  to  destruction.  Yet  how  little  is  known  of 
Flora  MacDonald  in  America!  The  fugitive  articles  and  biographical 
notices  of  her  in  the  press  of  her  native  country  betray  almost  a  total 
ignorance  on  the  subject.    Even  her  biography,  written  by  her  grand- 

7 


8  FLORA    MACDONALD    IX    AMERICA 

daughter,  Mrs.  Flora  Frances  Wilde,  extending  to  nearly  four  hundred 
pages,  two-thirds  of  which  is  pure  fiction,  passes  over  this  interesting 
period  with  a  notice  of  less  than  four  pages.  The  "Life  of  Flora  Mac- 
Donald,"  written  by  Rev.  Alexander  Macgregor,  a  more  conscientious 
and  painstaking  biographer,  contains  but  five  pages  relating  to  her 
sojourn  in  America. 

Having  seen  no  satisfactory  account  of  Flora  MacDonald's  life  in 
North  Carolina,  I  was  moved  to  make  a  thorough  investigation,  the 
result  of  which  I  published  in  the  Celtic  Monthly,  Glasgow,  for  the 
year  1900.  By  request  of  the  editor  of  the  American  Monthly  Mag- 
azine, I  abridged  the  account,  and  the  same  appears  in  the  issue  of 
that  journal  for  August,  1900.  Then  I  dismissed  the  subject  from  my 
mind  with  no  thought  of  ever  pursuing  it  again. 

By  special  invitation,  on  the  morning  of  February  20,  1909,  I 
entered  the  hospitable  mansion  of  Hon.  Angus  W.  McLean,  Lumber- 
ton,  North  Carolina,  to  pay  him  a  visit.  Within  less  than  an  hour  after 
my  appearance,  complete  arrangements  had  been  entered  into,  by  which 
I  was  to  rewrite  my  production  on  Flora  MacDonald,  and  Mr.  McLean 
was  to  finance  the  enterprise.  I  had  no  hesitancy  on  entering  into  the 
compact,  because  I  knew  that  North  Carolina  contained  a  very  large 
Highland  Scotch  population,  where  the  name  of  Flora  MacDonald  is 
venerated,  to  say  nothing  of  a  similar  people  scattered  throughout  the 
various  States  of  the  Union,  besides  the  same  race  in  Canada.  As 
these  people  take  a  just  pride  in  their  ancestry  it  was  safe  to  infer  that 
the  publication  would  receive  a  hearty  welcome. 

It  was  but  a  natural  consequence  that  Mr.  McLean  should  be 
specially  interested  in  Flora  MacDonald.  His  great-grandfather,  John 
MacLean,  emigrated  from  the  Isle  of  Mull  to  North  Carolina,  and  the 
clan  of  MacLean,  of  that  period,  was  still  a  strong  partisan  of  the 
House  of  Stuart.  Besides  this,  Mr.  McLean's  great-grandfather,  Col- 
onel James  MacQueen,  was  a  grandnephew  of  the  heroine  of  this 
story,  and  came  to  North  Carolina,  from  the  Isle  of  Skye,  in  the  year 
1765,  accompanied  by  his  sisters,  Polly,  Nepsic,  and  Isabel.  Ik- 
landed  at  Wilmington,  proceeded  up  the  Cape  Fear  River  to  Cross 
Creek,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time,  and  then,  with  his  sisters, 
went  to  Anson  County,  and  there  taught  school  for  several  years.     He 


INTRODUCTORY    NOTE  V 

was  living  in  that  county  when  Flora  MacDonald  came  to  America, 
and  through  his  influence  Allen  and  Flora  MacDonald  were  persuaded 
to  leave  Cameron's  Hill  and  settle  in  Anson  County.  Flora  lived  for  a 
short  time  with  the  MacQueen's  before  settling  at  Killiegrey.  Just 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Colonel  MacQueen  married  Nancy 
MacRae,  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  about  ten  miles  south  of 
Maxton,  giving  his  home  the  name  of  Queensdale,  which  it  still  retains. 
He  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  Flora  MacDonaid's,  and  during  her  hours 
of  adversity,  supplied  her  with  money  and  looked  after  her  necessities 
while  her  husband  was  a  prisoner.  When  Flora  left  America  for  Skye, 
he  again  supplied  her  with  money  to  meet  her  expenses  and  pressing 
obligations.  He  had  been  successful  in  amassing  what,  at  that  time, 
was  a  large  fortune. 

It  is  only  fair  to  state  that  some  points  in  the  narrative  I  found 
myself  unable  to  unravel.  I  notified  Mr.  McLean,  who  at  once  gave 
his  time  and  energy  and  succeeded  in  gaining  valuable  information, 
and  placed  the  same  at  my  disposal.  I  further  state  the  manuscript  of 
this  work  was  not  submitted  to  his  inspection,  and  the  contents  are 
wholly  on  my  own  responsibility. 

Before  leaving  North  Carolina,  I  set  about  securing  all  available 
information,  visited  Cross  Creek  (now  Fayetteville),  sought  out  those 
supposed  to  have  items  of  interest,  and  from  all,  living  in  different 
communities,  I  received  the  utmost  courtesy.  To  Mr.  John  MacLean, 
of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  I  am  indebted  for  photos  of  the  monument  of 
Flora  MacDonaid's  grave,  and  her  statue  in  the  city  of  Inverness.  The 
illustrations  of  scenes  in  Skye  are  taken  from  Thomas  Pennant's  Tour 
in  Scotland  and  Voyage  to  the  Hebrides,  made  in  1772. 

The  object  of  this  production  is  not  to  present  the  life  of  Flora 
MacDonald,  but  mainly  to.  confine  the  account  to  her  history  as  con- 
nected with  North  Carolina,  though  recognizing  the  necessity  for  a 
brief  historical  sketch  in  order  that  a  uniform  narrative  may  be  main- 
tained. In  presenting  this  testimony,  with  the  additional  facts  revealed, 
it  is  hoped  that  the  effort  will  meet  the  approval  of  all  who  are  interested 
in  the  life  and  character  of  the  Scottish  heroine.  If  such  shall  be  the 
result,  then  I  shall  feel  well  repaid  for  my  labor. 

franklin,  Ohio,  April  6,  ipop. 


CHAPTER    II. 

Flora  MacDonald's  Early  Life. 

Flora  MacDonald,  of  the  family  of  Clanranald,  a  sept  of  the  Clan 
MacDonald,  was  born  in  1722 — month  and  day  not  given — in  Milton, 
South  Uist,  one  of  the  outer  Hebrides  of  Scotland.  Patronimically 
she  was  designated  "Fionnghal  nighean  Raonuill'ic  Aonghais  Oig,  an 
Airidh  Mhuilinn,"  or  ''Flora,  the  daughter  of  Ranald,  the  son  of 
Angus,  younger  of  Milton."  Her  mother  was  Marian,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Angus  MacDonald.  Flora  was  the  only  daughter  of  the  family, 
but  she  had  two  brothers.  Her  younger  brother,  Angus,  succeeded  his 
father  at  Milton,  while  her  mother,  in  1728,  married,  for  her  second 
husband,  Captain  Hugh  MacDonald  of  Armadale  in  Skye.  On  the 
removal  of  the  mother  to  Armadale,  Angus  felt  very  reluctant  to  part 
with  his  sister,  then  six  years  of  age.  As  the  mother  and  son  could 
not  agree,  the  decision  ,was  left  to  Flora.  On  being  asked  if  she  pre- 
ferred to  go  to  Skye  with  her  mother,  or  remain  with  her  brother  at 
Milton,  she  instantly  replied,  "I  will  stay  at  Milton  because  I  love  it. 
I  do  not  know  Skye,  and  do  not  care  for  it.  I  will  therefore  remain 
with  Angus  until  my  dear  mamma  comes  back  to  me."  As  a  child  she 
was  precocious,  and  her  behavior  so  excellent  that  parents  who  knew 
her,  in  correcting  their  own  children  would  ask  them,  "C'uin  a  bhios 
sibh  cosmhuil  ri  Fionnghal  Nighean  Roanuill,  an  Airidh-Mhuilinn?" 
or,  "When  will  you  resemble  Flora  of  Milton?"  She  was  a  particular 
favorite  with  all  the  families  of  the  Isle,  especially  so  with  Clanranald 
(Ranald  MacDonald,  fifteenth  of  Clanranald)  and  his  lady,  the  latter 
acting  toward  her  more  like  a  mother  than  a  distant  relative. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  Flora  entered  the  family  of  Clanranald  at 
(  irmiclade,  and  there  remained  for  three  years,  receiving  instruction 
from  a  governess  retained  in  the  hospitable  mansion.  In  1739,  Lady 
Clanranald  was  persuaded  by  Lady  Margaret  MacDonald,  wife  of  Sir 
Alexander  MacDonald  of  the  Isles,  residing  at  Monkstadt,  in  Skye, 
to  send  Flora  to  her,  as  she  and  Sir  Alexander  were  desirous  that 
Flora  should  be  educated.     Accordingly,  in  the  fall  of  1741,  she  was 

10 


FLORA    MACDONALD'S    EARLY    LIFE  11 

sent  to  Edinburgh,  and  there  attended  a  boarding-school  provided  for 
girls,  and  in  that  city  she  stayed  continuously  for  over  three  years, 
and  attended  closely  to  her  education. 

On  receiving  the  news  of  the  disastrous  defeat  of  the  British  at 
Fontenoy,  Sir  Alexander  determined  to  leave  Edinburgh,  with  Lady 
Margaret  and  Flora,  for  home.  On  the  third  of  June,  the  party  went 
on  board  the  Brothers  in  Leith  harbor,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  same 
day  set  sail.  On  board  was  a  goodly  company,  among  which  was 
Lord  President  Forbes  of  Culloden.  After  eight  days  the  vessel 
landed  its  passengers  at  Inverness,  where  Sir  Alexander  was  met  by 
his  servants  with  three  horses  properly  saddled  to  convey  the  party  to 
Skye,  and  after  a  tiresome  journey  over  bridlepaths,  in  due  time  arrived 
safely  at  Monkstadt. 

Having  remained  four  days  at  Monkstadt,  Flora  procured  passage 
for  the  Long  Island,  in  order  to  visit  her  brother  at  Milton  and  also 
Lady  Clanranald  at  Ormiclade.  She  received  a  warm  reception  from 
her  old  friends  who  assembled  in  order  to  bid  her  welcome.  So  happy 
was  old  Clanranald  that  he  addressed  his  young  friend  in  Gaelic : 
"Flora,  my  dear,  I  rejoice  to  see  your  comely  face  again.  You  are  wel- 
come back  to  the  Isle  of  your  birth,  for  the  household  was  devoid  of 
joy  and  gladness  since  you  left  it;  and  even  'Ceolag'  itself  (the  small 
pianoforte),  as  if  under  lamentation,  was  mute." 


CHAPTER    III. 

Flora  MacDonald  Becomes  Famous. 

At  the  time  of  the  return  of  Flora  MacDonald  to  her  native  Isle, 
almost  all  of  Scotland  was  in  a  state  of  excitement  over  the  rumor 
that  Prince  Oiarles  Edward  Stuart  was  about  to  visit  them.  The 
partisans  of  the  House  of  Stuart  who  were  with  Prince  Charles  kept 
their  friends  in  the  Isles  and  on  the  mainland  posted  regarding  the 
movements  and  purposes  of  the  young  chevalier. 

On  July  23,  1745,  on  board  the  Doutelle,  Prince  Charles  arrived  at 
the  Island  of  Eriska,  in  the  Sound  of  Barra. 

It  is  foreign  to  the  purpose,  in  this  connection,  to  enter  even  into 
an  epitome  of  the  uprising  of  the  Highlanders  in  1745,  in  behalf  of  the 
House  of  Stuart,  which  ended  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  Culloden, 
fought  on  Drummossi  Muir,  near  Inverness,  April  16,  1746.  That 
history  has  been  frequently  and  graphically  retold,  and  all  the  facts 
readily  accessible  to  all  who  may  need  inquire. 

The  overthrow  of  the  Highland  army  was  followed  by  a  brutality 
and  inhumanity  unequaled  in  the  annals  of  history,  practised  under  the 
direct  command  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  son  of  the  reigning  sov- 
ereign. "Rebel  hunting,"  as  Cumberland  and  his  lawless  soldiery  called 
it,  was  mercilessly  practised  in  every  quarter.  Outrages  were  perpe- 
trated on  defenseless  women  too  shocking  to  be  narrated.  The  duke 
issued  a  proclamation  denouncing  immediate  death,  by  being  shot  or 
hanged,  against  all  persons  who  harbored  any  of  the  rebels,  or  aided 
them  to  escape  into  their  mountain  recesses.  Prince  Charles  believing 
that  his  cause  was  not  hopeless,  determined  to  make  his  way  as  quickly 
as  possible  to  France,  in  order  to  use  his  personal  exertions  in  pro- 
curing powerful  supplies.  Without  announcing  his  intentions  he  set 
out  upon  a  westerly  course,  arriving  at  Invergary  Castle  on  the  seven- 
teenth on  his  way  to  the  Long  Island,  where  he  hoped  to  find  a  vessel, 
whereby  he  could  be  com  eyed  to  France.  On  the  twenty-seventh  he 
landed  on  til.'  Long  Island,  and  his  arrival  there  created  great  excite- 


*  FLORA    MACDONALD    BECOMES    FAMOUS  13 

ment.  Soon  his  situation  became  desperate,  for  the  English  took  im- 
mediate action  for  guarding  every  avenue  of  escape,  and  the  unfortu- 
nate prince  learned  that  a  reward  of  £30,000  had  been  offered  for  his 
apprehension. 

During  the  period  above  referred  to,  Flora  MacDonald  resided 
principally  with  the  family  at  Ormiclade.  Old  Clanranald  and  Sir 
Alexander  MacDonald  sympathized  with  the  existing  government,  and 
Flora's  feelings  were  enlisted  with  those  of  her  chief.  The  hardships 
of  the  prince  were  rehearsed  to  her,  and  her  amiable  disposition  nat- 
urally went  out  to  him  in  his  misfortunes,  little  thinking  that  soon  her 
good  services  should  be  called  upon  to  extricate  him  from  his  perilous 
position. 

Suffering,  want,  and  danger  rapidly  pressed  upon  the  prince.  In 
the  hour  of  dire  extremity,  Flora  MacDonald  was  appealed  to  and  urged 
to  become  his  deliverer,  as  at  that  time  he  was  in  her  immediate  neigh- 
borhood. She  was  informed  of  his  miserable  state ;  the  cold  and  damp 
cave  in  which  he  was  sheltered ;  his  gaunt,  haggard,  and  half-famished 
appearance ;  his  tattered  raiment,  and  yet  hopeful  disposition.  It  re- 
quired but  little  persuasion  to  induce  her  to  comply,  for  a  recital  of 
the  prince's  condition  appealed  to  her  sympathies,  and  fully  realizing 
that  immediate  action  was  necessary,  she  formed  her  plans,  after  listen- 
ing to  the  advice  of  others.  She  repaired  to  Milton  in  order  that  her 
brother  might  be  acquainted  with  her  design.  On  her  return  from 
Milton  she  was  seized  by  a  party  of  militia,  and  having  no  passport, 
was  detained  prisoner  for  the  night.  Early  on  the  following  morning 
her  step-father,  Captain  Hugh  MacDonald,  in  command,  found  her  in 
the  guard-house,  which  was  a  small,  turf-built  hut,  roofed  with  bul- 
rushes. Flora  applied  to  him  for  a  passport  for  herself,  her  man- 
servant, an  Irish  spinning-maid  named  Betty  Burke,  and  for  six  of  a 
crew,  all  destined  for  Armadale  in  Skye.  On  June  26,  Flora  was  con- 
ducted to  the  cave  where  the  prince  had  taken  refuge.  As  the  prince 
was  to  impersonate  Betty  Burke,  the  proper  dress  had  been  provided 
and  brought  along.  No  sooner  had  the  prince  been  metamorphosed 
into  a  tall,  awkward,  Irish  servant  than  a  messenger  arrived  announcing 
that  Captain  Ferguson  and  Major  Allan  MacDonald,  with  troops,  had 
reached  Ormiclade,  and  that  Lady  MacDonald,  who  had  accompanied 


14  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

Flora,  must  hasten  home  to  avoid  suspicion.     On  reaching  home  she 
was  rig-idly  and  rudely  questioned  by  her  military  visitors. 

On  the  night  of  June  27,  the  prince  narrowly  escaped  being  taken 
prisoner.  Flora  had  procured  a  boat  with  six  oarsmen,  and  every  other 
necessary,  and  walked  along  the  shore  with  Lady  Clanranald  to  a 
distance  of  a  mile  from  Clanranald's  house,  where,  according  to  ap- 
pointment, the  prince  (dressed  as  Betty  Burke)  and  Colonel  O'Neale 
met  her.  The  rain  was  falling  in  torrents.  To  their  consternation  they 
saw  four  armed  cutters  so  close  to  the  shore  that  they  could  not  get 
away  unobserved  by  the  soldiers  on  board  the  boats,  and  therefore 
skulked  among  the  rocks  till  the  vessels  passed  them.  In  about  an 
hour  after,  their  own  boat,  concealed  in  a  neighboring  creek,  with 
muffled  oars,  rowed  up  gently  to  the  spot  where  it  was  so  anxiously 
expected.  With  all  possible  speed  they  embarked  on  their  perilous 
vi  i\  age  across  the  Minch  to  Skye,  a  distance  of  nearly  forty  miles. 

The  voyage  proved  to  be  perilous  in  the  extreme.  The  whole 
channel  was  scoured  by  armed  vessels,  making  the  chances  of  success 
exceedingly  doubtful.  On  leaving  the  shore  the  weather  was  calm 
and  serene,  and  then  a  moderate  breeze  sprang  up,  but  the  wind  was 
favorable.  Within  a  few  hours  one  of  those  summer  storms,  so  com- 
mon in  the  Isles,  unexpectedly  came  on,  the  wind  blowing  terrific  gusts, 
rolling  the  billows  high,  and  threatening  to  engulf  the  frail  craft.  Then 
a  thunder-storm  set  in,  painfully  alarming  the  party  as  to  their  safety. 
The  crew,  composed  of  picked  men,  excellent  seamen  and  skilled  in 
managing  a  craft  in  a  storm,  was  forced  to  call  forth  their  utmost 
energies  that  night  to  manage  the  boat  amid  the  raging  billows.  At 
break  of  day  the  storm  moderated,  and  in  the  dim  distance  appeared 
the  lofty  headlands  of  Skye.  As  the  boat  approached  Waternish,  a 
party  of  the  MacLeod  militia  stationed  there  ran  to  the  shore  with  their 
guns  and  leveled  them  at  the  boat.  The  tide  being  out,  the  crew,  with 
desperate  pulls,  forced  the  boat  beyond  the  reach  of  the  militia,  amid 
a  shower  of  bullets  which  riddled  the  sails,  cleft  the  handle  of  the 
helm,  and  grazed  a  finger  of  the  steersman.  The  prince  stood  up  and 
cheered  the  crew  and  also  endeavored  to  persuade  Flora  to  remain 
in  the  bottom  of  the  boat.    This  she  declined  unless  he  also  would  seek 


.     a 


r.  u 
U  _ 
X.   - 


•     = 


FLORA    MACDONALD    BECOMES    FAMOUS  15 

such  protection.  Eventually  as  the  danger  increased,  both  squatted 
down  and  so  continued  until  the  boat  was  out  of  danger. 

When  once  more  fairly  out  at  sea,  Flora,  overcome  with  the  watch- 
fulness and  anxiety  of  the  night,  fell  asleep  upon  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 
Proceeding  on  their  voyage  a  few  miles  to  the  northward,  the  boat 
was  put  into  a  cleft,  in  order  to  rest  and  refresh  the  rowers ;  but  the 
alarm  which  their  appearance  occasioned  in  a  village  hard  by,  obliged 
them  to  put  to  sea  again.  Finally  they  landed,  on  the  twenty-ninth, 
at  a  place  called  Kilbride,  in  the  parish  of  Kilmuir,  and  within  five  hun- 
dred yards  of  Monkstadt,  the  residence  of  Sir  Alexander  MacDonald. 

Under  a  shelving  rock  at  Kilbride,  at  that  time,  was  a  cave  into 
which  the  prince  entered.  Flora,  accompanied  by  her  faithful  servant, 
Niel  (father  of  the  celebrated  Marshall  MacDonald,  Duke  of  Taren- 
tum),  repaired  at  once  to  Monkstadt.  The  heroine  was  at  once  shown 
into  the  drawing-room  where  she  found  quite  a  number  in  military 
dress,  among  whom  was  Captain  John  MacLeod,  in  command  of  a 
company  of  militia  stationed  two  miles  distant.  MacLeod's  language 
to  her  was  rude  and  the  questions  put  to  her  positively  uncivil ;  but  she 
never  lost  her  self-possession,  and  all  her  replies  were  in  calm  and 
pleasing  words.  Her  deportment  was  so  fascinating  and  agreeable 
throughout  that  she  won  the  esteem  of  the  officer,  and  had  the  honor 
of  being  escorted  by  him  to  dinner,  where  she  received  his  most  assid- 
uous attentions.  Although  he  had  rigidly  examined  every  boat  that 
landed  in  his  vicinity,  yet,  through  the  consummate  diplomacy  of  Flora, 
he  neglected  that  which  bore  the  maiden  and  her  companions. 

It  was  of  the  utmost  importance  that  Lady  MacDonald  should  be 
secretly  apprised  of  the  situation.  This  duty  devolved  upon  ^Alex- 
ander MacDonald,  of  Kingsburgh,  factor  to  Sir  Alexander.  Although 
Lady  MacDonald  was  a  thorough  Jacobite,  yet  the  information 
greatly  alarmed  her.  It  was  decided  that  the  prince  should  at  once  be 
removed  to  Kingsburgh's  residence,  situated  some  miles  distant  on  the 
north  shore  of  Loch  Snizort. 

Having  delayed  the  company  a  sufficient  length  of  time  for  Kings- 
burgh and  the  prince  to  get  a  good  start,  Flora  arose  from  the  table 
and  announced  she  should  take  her  departure.  Lady  MacDonald  af- 
fected great  concern  at  her  short  stay  and  entreated  her  to  prolong  it. 


16  FLORA    MACDONALD    IX    AMERICA 

Mora,  on  the  other  hand,  pleaded  the  necessity  of  being  at  home  on 
account  of  her  mother's  illness.  With  great  apparent  reluctance.  Lady 
MacDonald  permitted  her  young  guest  to  depart. 

On  the  journey  Flora,  with  her  servant,  Niel,  was  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  MacDonald  of  Kirkibost  and  her  two  servants,  all  five  riding  on 
horseback.  They  soon  overtook  the  prince,  who  had  thus  far  walked 
on  the  public  highway,  but  was  soon  to  turn  off  on  an  unfrequented 
path  across  the  wild  country.  Flora,  anxious  that  her  fellow-traveler's 
servants  should  not  see  the  route  of  the  prince,  called  upon  the  party 
to  ride  faster;  and  the  two  pedestrians  were  passed  at  a  trot.  Mrs. 
MacDonald's  girl  perceiving  the  prince,  still  in  female  attire,  remarked 
that  she  "had  never  seen  such  a  tall,  impudent-looking  woman  in  her 
life!  See,"  she  continued,  addressing  Flora,  "what  long  strides  the 
jade  takes !  I  dare  say  she  is  an  Irish  woman,  or  else  a  man  in  woman's 
clothes." 

After  an  uncomfortable  day's  traveling  through  the  rain,  Kings- 
burgh,  Flora,  and  the  prince  arrived  safely  at  Kingsburgh  House 
about  eleven  at  night. 

The  following  day  Prince  Charles,  Kingsburgh,  and  Flora  set  out 
on  foot  for  Portree,  fourteen  miles  distant.  After  pursuing  their  way 
a  considerable  distance,  the  prince,  with  Kingsburgh,  retired  into  a 
wood,  where  the  former  exchanged  his  female  attire  into  a  suit  con- 
sisting of  a  short  coat  and  waistcoat,  a  philibeg  and  short  hose,  a  plaid, 
a  wig,  and  a  bonnet.  There  the  company  separated,  Kingsburgh  to 
return  home,  the  prince  to  proceed,  accompanied  by  a  little  herdboy, 
and  Flora  taking  a  different  route  for  the  same  place.  At  Portree  the 
prince  took  farewell  of  Flora  by  saying,  "For  all  that  has  happened, 
I  hope,  madam,  we  shall  meet  in  St.  James  yet."  He  never  communi- 
cated with  her  afterwards,  nor  recognized  the  obligations  due  her  and 
the  gratitude  which  he  should  have  expressed,  although  he  lived  for 
forty-two  years  after  the  parting  in  Portree. 

There  is  a  tradition,  still  current  among  the  descendants  of  Col. 
James  MacQueen,  in  North  Carolina,  that  Prince  Charles,  while  being 
piloted  by  Flora  MacDonald,  came  near  being  captured  at  one  of  their 
stopping-places,  from  the  manner  in  which  he  received  peas  served  in 
the  house  where  they  were  stopping.     After  supper  some  one  suggested 


PARTING    OF    FLORA    MAC  DONALD    AND    PRINCE    CHARLES 
(.From    "Ascanius;    or,    the    Young    Adventurer") 


FLORA    MACDONALD    BECOMES    FAMOUS  1/ 

that  the  peas  be  shelled  for  the  next  clay,  and  all  agreed  to  join  in  the 
work.  The  hostess,  in  distributing  the  peas  to  be  shelled,  suggested 
to  the  other  women  present  to  prepare  their  laps  for  them.  All  the 
women  present,  except  "Bettie  Burke,"  spread  their  laps,  as  was  the 
custom,  to  receive  them,  while  Bettie  drew  her  (his)  knees  together, 
man  fashion.  The  incident  was  observed  and  remarked  at  the  time  and 
came  nearly  leading  to  the  detection  that  Bettie  was  a  man  in  disguise, 
only  the  hurried  departure  of  Flora  and  her  charge  preventing  detection. 

Flora,  having  parted  with  the  prince  at  Portree,  went  to  spend  a 
few  days  with  her  mother  at  Armadale,  and  then  took  her  departure 
for  her  brother's  residence  at  Milton. 

A  mistake  was  made  in  allowing  the  boat  which  brought  the  party 
to  Skye  to  return  so  soon.  Flora  did  not  order  it,  nor  did  she  com- 
mand the  men  to  stay.  On  the  return  of  the  boat  the  men  were  instantly 
arrested  and  examined  separately,  when  all  the  facts  became  known. 

Having  arrived  at  Milton,  Flora  took  no  steps  to  conceal  herself, 
although  aware  that  she  was  being  diligently  sought  for,  as  she  was 
now  considered  to  be  the  principal  offender.  She  was,  within  a  few 
days  after  her  arrival  at  Milton,  summoned  to  appear  for  examination 
before  MacLeod  of  Talisker,  a  captain  of  militia,  in  the  Isle  of  Skye. 
Her  friends  importuned  her  to  disobey  the  summons  and  secret  herself 
amid  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  their  native  isle.  She  peremptorily 
declined,  declaring  that  she  had  done  nothing  of  which  she  was 
ashamed,  and  would  appear  before  any  government  official  and  answer 
any  charges  that  might  be  instituted.  Unprotected  and  alone  she 
responded  to  the  summons  of  Captain  MacLeod,  who  permitted  her  to 
visit  her  mother  at  Armadale.  Before  reaching  there  she  was  seized 
by  an  officer  in  command  of  a  party  of  soldiers  and  conveyed  a  prisoner 
on  board  the  Furnace,  commanded  by  Captain  Ferguson.  General 
John  Campbell,  happening  to  be  on  board  the  vessel,  took  her  in  charge 
and  treated  her  with  great  consideration,  permitting  her  to  visit  her 
mother,  replenish  her  wardrobe,  and  to  procure  a  female  servant.  On 
board  this  vessel  she  remained  twenty-two  days. 

After  many  trials,  much  suffering,  and  several  hairbreadth  es- 
capes, Prince  Charles  succeeded  in  eluding  his  pursuers,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 20  set  sail  from  Loch  Arkaig,  on  the  mainland,  on  board  the 


18  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

Bellona  of  Nantes,  and  the  twenty-ninth  arrived  at  Roscort,  near 
Mwlaix,  after  narrowly  escaping  Admiral  Lestock's  squadron. 

The  narrative  of  the  wanderings  of  the  prince  reads  more  like 
a  romance  than  a  reality,  and  is  entertainingly  set  forth  in  various 
books,  especially  so  in  Keltie's  History  of  the  Highland  Clans,  Cham- 
ber's History  of  the  Rebellion  of  1745-46,  and  Boswell's  Tour  of  the 
Hebrides,  all  of  which  contain  full  accounts  of  Flora  MacDonald's 
participation  in  the  prince's  escape. 

By  order  of  General  Campbell,  Flora  MacDonald  was  conveyed 
to  Dunstaffnage  Castle,  where  she  was  confined  for  about  ten  days. 
Here  she  received  much  attention,  not  only  from  the  governor,  but 
also  from  the  most  prominent  families.  From  the  castle  she  was  taken 
and  placed  in  a  wherry,  and  before  a  stiff  breeze  the  frail  craft  glided 
swiftly  down  Loch  Etive  towards  the  Sound  of  Mull,  and  soon  dis- 
appeared. She  was  then  put  on  board  the  Bridgezvater,  which  put  into 
Leith  Roads  early  in  September  and  remained  there  until  November. 

By  this  time  the  name  of  Flora  MacDonald  had  become  famous, 
and  wherever  the  winds  had  wafted  her  deeds  she  was  regarded  as 
a  heroine  and  greatly  admired.  While  the  Bridgezvater  was  lying  in 
Leith  Roads  she  was  almost  constantly  visited  by  the  better  class,  both 
at  Leith  and  Edinburgh.  All  appeared  to  be  interested  in  her  and  did 
what  was  in  their  power  to  add  to  her  comfort.  Her  wise  conduct, 
good  sense,  and  fortitude  impressed  all  alike. 

The  Bridgezvater,  in  which  Flora  MacDonald  was  held  a  prisoner, 
left  Leith  Roads  on  November  7  and  carried  her  direct  to  London.  Her 
fame  had  preceded  her  to  the  metropolis  and  had  excited  as  much 
interest  as  was  exhibited  in  Scotland.  The  government,  realizing  that 
the  nation  deeply  sympathized  with  the  fair  prisoner,  deemed  it  would 
be  unwise  to  commit  her  to  the  common  gaol,  and  that  it  would  injure 
their  popularity  if  she  was  visited  with  the  severity  of  the  law,  after 
a  short  confinement  in  the  Tower,  turned  her  over  to  the  custody  of 
friends  who  became  responsible  for  her  appearance  when  demanded. 
For  nearly  twelve  months  she  remained  a  state  prisoner.  On  the 
passage  of  the  Indemnity  Act,  in  July,  1747,  Flora  MacDonald  was 
set  at  liberty.  On  receiving  her  liberation  she  became  a  guest  of  honor 
in  the  house  of  Lady  Primrose,  and  was  there  visited  by  crowds  of 


(From   Original   Painting  by    I.   Mackluin,    1747) 


20  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

the  fashionable  world  who  paid  her  great  homage.  Artists  waited  upon 
her  to  procure  her  portrait,  and  others  to  award  their  gifts.  In  London 
a  subscription  was  raised  for  her  amounting  to  £1,500.  All  this  demon- 
stration produced  no  effect  on  her  mind  but  that  of  surprise ;  she  had 
only  performed  an  act  of  humanity,  and  never  thought  of  it  in  any 
other  light  until  she  found  the  world  making  so  much  ado  over  it. 

Before  leaving  London  she  particularly  interested  herself  in  the 
liberation  of  old  Kingsburgh,  a  state  prisoner  in  Scotland,  and  others, 
and  was  gratified  at  her  success.  When  all  matters  were  finally  ar- 
ranged, with  her  faithful  Niel  MacDonald  she  left  London  in  a  coach 
and  four  for  Edinburgh.  Leaving  Edinburgh  she  proceeded  to  Inver- 
ness and  became  a  guest  among  her  friends  for  ten  days.  Thence,  on 
horseback  she  journeyed  to  her  mother's  home  at  Armadale. 

For  two  months  she  rested  at  her  mother's  home,  and  then  visited 
her  friends  at  Scalpa,  Raasay,  Scorribreck,  Kingsburgh,  Flodigarry, 
and  especially  at  Monkstadt  where  Sir  Alexander  MacDonald  and 
Lady  Margaret  rejoiced  at  her  appearance.  While  staying  at  Scorri- 
breck, Mr.  Nicholson  invited  a  large  party  of  the  neighboring  ladies 
and  gentlemen  to  meet  the  distinguished  heroine.  Among  them  was 
Major  Allan  MacDonald,  who  had,  by  a  cunning  device,  arrested 
Flora's  friend,  Donald  MacLeod  of  Galtrigal,  and  was  the  cause  of  his 
imprisonment.  The  major  held  out  his  hand  to  welcome  Flora,  where- 
upon she  tartly  said :  "Yes,  sir,  I  give  you  my  hand,  but  not  entirely 
with  my  heart.  I  wish  to  show  all  courtesy  to  the  profession  which 
you  have  disgraced  by  a  low  and  base  strategem  utterly  unworthy  of 
the  conduct  of  a  soldier,  a  Highlander,  and  a  gentleman !"  This  honest 
expression  for  a  moment  paralyzed  the  whole  company. 

A  few  visits  were  made  among  the  respectable  families  in  the 
vicinity  of  Portree,  where  all  were  delighted  to  receive  her.  Next  she 
resorted  to  the  mansion  house  of  Kingsburgh,  which  was  simply  a 
heath-thatched  cottage  surrounded  by  trees.  At  that  period  there 
were  but  three  slated  houses  on  the  island,  not  including  Armadale, 
Dunvegan  Castle,  and  a  prison.  The  thatched  houses  were  warm, 
comfortable,  and  well  furnished.  Unfortunately,  Alexander  MacDonald. 
who  had  recently  returned  from  his  long  imprisonment  in  Edinburgh 
Castle,  had  gone  to  Flodigarry,  in  the  north  end  of  the  island.     From 


FLORA    MACDONALD    BECOMES    FAMOUS 


21 


Kingsburgh  she  repaired  to  Monkstadt,  and  during  her  stay  the  house 
was  frequented  by  a  great  many  visitors.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that 
Lady  Margaret  made  the  arrangements  for  Flora's  marriage  with  Allen 
MacDonald,  Kingsburgh's  son. 


£**- 


'^-J^tUaa. 


BARBAQUE    CREEK    KIRK 
(From    MacEean's    "Scotch    Highlanders    in    America") 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Marriage  and  Person. 

It  has  been  noted  that  Flora  MacDonald  had  become  famous  at 
home  as  well  as  abroad.  On  her  return  to  Uist  she  made  her  home 
with  her  brother  at  Milton.  She  made  frequent  visits  to  Lady  Clanra- 
nald  at  Ormiclade,  and  other  families  in  the  Long  Island,  and  on 
several  occasions  crossed  to  the  Isle  of  Skye  to  visit  in  the  family  at 
Monkstadt,  and  to  pass  lengthened  intervals  with  her  mother  at  Arma- 
dale. It  is  also  in  evidence  that  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1748 
she  made  a  visit  to  London. 

Early  in  life  Flora  formed  an  attachment  to  Allen,  son  of  Alex- 
ander MacDonald  of  Kingsburgh.  The  marriage  took  place  at  Flodi- 
garry,  November  6,  1750,  the  festivities  of  which  were  on  a  large 
scale  and  lasted  nearly  a  week,  the  company  being  unusually  large. 
The  bride  was  robed  in  a  dress  of  the  Stuart  pattern,  with  which  she 
had  been  presented  by  a  lady  friend  when  in  London.  An  immense 
barn  had  been  fitted  up  for  the  gentlemen's  sleeping  berths,  and  a 
similar  place  for  ladies,  while  a  pavilion  was  erected,  and  roofed  with 
heather,  to  serve  both  for  a  banqueting  hall  and  ball-room. 

Flodigarry  is  situated  in  the  north  end  of  Skye,  sixteen  miles  dis- 
tant from  Kingsburgh,  and  at  that  time  was  rented  by  Allen.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  romantic  spots  on  the  Isle,  and  of  rare  beauty.  Here 
Flora  and  her  husband  remained  until  the  death  of  old  Kingsburgh, 
which  took  place  February  13,  1772,  aged  83. 

Alexander  MacDonald,  Sixth  of  Kingsburgh,  was  a  man  of  great 
integrity,  probity,  and  honor,  and  was  long  one  of  the  principal  man- 
agers of  his  chief's  affairs,  having  been  first  appointed  by  Sir  Donald 
in  1718,  and  in  his  duties  acquitted  himself  with  great  fidelity.  In 
1746  he  assisted  Prince  Charles  to  escape,  and  for  one  night  entertained 
him  in  his  house.  For  this  he  was  ordered  arrested  by  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland  and  thrown  into  Edinburgh  Castle.    The  arrest  was  made 


MARRIAGE    AND    PERSON  23 

by  General  John  Campbell,  who  sent  him  on  parole,  witnout  any  guard, 
to  Fort  Augustus,  where  he  was  plundered  of  everything,  thrown  into 
a  dungeon  and  loaded  with  irons.     Here  he  was  examined  by   Sir 
Edward  Fawkener,  who  reminded  him  of  the  noble  opportunity  he  had 
lost  by  not  betraying  the  prince.     To  this  Kingsburgh  righteously  re- 
plied, "Had  I  gold  and  silver  piled  heaps  upon  heaps  to  the  bulk  of 
yon  huge  mountain,  that  mass  could  not  afford  me  half  the  satisfaction 
I  find  in  my  own  heart  from  doing  what  I  have  done."    Another  officer 
came  and  asked  him  if  he  would  know  the  young  pretender's  head  if 
he  saw  it.     He  replied  that  he  would  know  it  very  well  if  he  saw  it 
on  his  shoulders.     "But  if  the  head  were  not  on  the  shoulders,  do  you 
think  you  should  know  it  in  that  case?"     "In  that  case,"  answered 
Kingsburgh,  "I  will  not  pretend  to  know  anything  about  it."    He  was 
removed  to  Edinburgh  Castle  under  a  strong  guard,  and  there  placed 
in  a  room  by  himself,  which  he  was  not  allowed  to  leave,  nor  see  any 
one  except  those  in  charge.     Here  he  was  kept  until  liberated,  July  4, 
1747;  having,  as  one  author  observed,  "got  a  whole  year's  lodging  for 
affording  that  of  one  night." 

Kingsburgh  sustained  heavy  losses  in  consequence  of  the  part  he 
took  in  the  prince's  cause,  and  to  his  personal  removal  from  the  man- 
agement of  his  affairs  by  a  year's  imprisonment  in  Edinburgh  Castle. 
Added  to  this  he  was  deprived  of  the  remunerative  management  of  his 
chief's  extensive  estates. 

Allen  MacDonald  was  one  of  the  most  handsome  and  powerful 
members-  of  his  clan,  and  possessed  superior  qualities  of  both  mind  and 
body.  Boswell,  in  his  Tour  of  the  Hebrides,  who  first  saw  him  on 
September  12,  1773,  thus  describes  him:  "Kingsburgh  was  completely 
the  figure  of  a  gallant  Highlander,  exhibiting  the  graceful  mien  and 
manly  looks,  which  our  popular  Scotch  song  has  justly  attributed  to 
that  character.  He  had  his  tartan  plaid  thrown  about  him,  a  large 
blue  bonnet  with  a  knot  of  black  ribband  like  a  cockade,  a  brown  short 
coat  of  a  kind  of  duffil,  a  tartan  waistcoat  with  gold  buttons  and  gold 
button-holes,  a  bluish  philibeg,  and  tartan  hose.  He  had  jet  black  hair 
tied  behind,  and  was  a  large,  stately  man,  with  a  steady,  sensible  counte- 
nance." 


24  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

Boswell  and  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  made  it  a  point  to  visit  Kings- 
burgh  House  during  their  tour  of  the  Hebrides,  being  attracted  by  the 
fame  of  its  mistress.  Boswell  speaks  of  her  as  "a  little  woman,  of  a 
genteel  appearance,  and  uncommonly  mild  and  well-bred." 

Doctor  Johnson,  through  the  kindness  of  Flora,  was  permitted  to 
sleep  in  the  bed  occupied  by  Prince  Charles,  and  also  to  use  the  same 
sheets,  which  greatly  pleased  him.  In  his  Journey  to  the  Western  Isles 
he  was  moved  to  say :  "We  were  entertained  with  the  usual  hospitality 
by  Mr.  MacDonald  and  his  lady,  Flora  MacDonald,  a  name  that  will 
be  mentioned  in  history,  and  if  courage  and  fidelity  be  virtues,  men- 
tioned with  honor.  She  is  a  woman  of  middle  stature,  soft  features, 
gentle  manners,  and  elegant  presence."  In  the  morning  on  which  he 
left  Kingsburgh,  a  slip  of  paper  was  found  on  his  toilet  table,  with  the 
following  Latin  words  written  in  pencil:  "Quantum  cedat  virtutibus 
aurum,"  which  Doctor  Carruthers,  in  his  Notes  to  Boszucll's  Tour, 
freely  translates,  "With  virtue  sacrificed,  what  worthless  trash  is  gold." 

W'hile  imprisoned  on  board  the  Bridgczcater,  in  Leith  Roads, 
Flora  was  visited  by  Bishop  Forbes,  who  thus  describes  her :  "Although 
she  was  easy  and  cheerful,  yet  she  had  a  certain  mixture  of  gravity 
in  all  her  behaviour  which  became  her  situation  exceedingly  well,  and 
set  her  off  to  great  advantage.  She  is  of  a  low  stature,  of  a  fair  com- 
plexion, and  well  enough  shaped.  One  would  not  discern  by  her 
conversation  that  she  had  spent  all  her  former  days  in  the  Highlands ; 
for  she  talks  English  (or  rather  Scots)  easily,  and  not  at  all  through 
the  Erse  tone.  She  has  a  sweet  voice,  and  sings  well,  and  no  lady, 
Edinburgh-bred,  can  acquit  herself  better  at  the  tea-table  than  she 
did  when  in  Leith  Roads.  Her  wise  conduct  in  one  of  the  most 
perplexing  scenes  that  can  happen  in  life,  her  fortitude  and  good 
sense  are  memorable  instances  of  the  strength  of  a  female  mind,  even 
in  those  years  that  are  tender  and  inexperienced."' 

In  North  Carolina  it  is  a  tradition,  handed  down  by  those  who 
knew  her,  that  she  was  "a  dignified  and  handsome  woman,  to  whom  all 
paid  great  respect."  It  is  the  united  testimony  that  at  the  time  she 
left  for  America  she  still  retained  much  of  the  beauty  of  her  youth. 

Thomas  Pennant  visited  Kingsburgh  July  22,  and  23,  1772.  The 
only  reference  to  the  heroine  he  makes  is  the   following  paragraph : 


FLORA   MACDONALD   MEETING    DOCTOR   JOHNSON 
(From   "Boswell's   "Tour  to   the   Hebrides") 


26  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

"After  a  passage  of  a  mile  landed  at  Kingsburgh,  immortalized  by  its 
mistress,  the  celebrated  Flora  MacDonald,  the  fair  protectress  of  a 
fugitive  adventurer,  who,  after  some  days  concealing  himself  from 
pursuit,  in  the  disguise  of  the  lady's  maid,  here  flung  off  the  female 
habit."  However  he  remarks  he  was  "lodged  this  night  in  the  same 
bed  that  formerly  received  the  unfortunate  Charles  Stuart,"  besides 
commenting  on  three  very  curious,  ancient  relics  given  him  by  Allen. 
In  Pinkerton's  General  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  I  find  this 
sentence  inserted  in  the  text:  "I  had  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance 
at  the  first  Sir  Watkin  William  Wynne's  in  the  year  1746;  but  at  this 
time  I  unfortunately  found  that  she  was  absent  on  a  visit." 


CHAPTER    V. 

Financial  Embarrassment  of  Allen  MacDonald. 

If  must  have  been  a  matter  of  common  notoriety  that  Allen  Mac- 
Donald  was  greatly  embarrassed  financially.  Boswell  speaks  of  it  as 
no  secret,  and  refers  to  it  in  the  following  language :  "In  reality  my 
heart  was  grieved,  when  I  recollected  that  Kingsburgh  was  embarrassed 
in  his  affairs,  and  intended  to  go  to  America.-'  This  arose  from  no 
mismanagement  or  extravagance  of  his  own  or  that  of  his  prudent 
wife,  but  from  the  heavy  losses  of  his  father,  growing  out  of  the 
troublous  times  and  the  part  he  took  in  it.  The  losses  appear  to  have 
been  very  great.  As  the  representative  of  his  father,  Allen  became 
entangled,  but  in  the  face  of  all  his  endeavors  to  surmount  the  liabilities 
he  found  his  efforts  would  prove  futile. 

The  estate,  known  as  Kingsburgh,  was  a  part  of  the  domain  of 
Sir  Alexander  MacDonald  of  the  Isles,  and  was  occupied  by  the 
chamberlain.  The  first  Kingsburgh  was  James  MacDonald,  brother  of 
Donald  Gorm  MacDonald  of  Sleat,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  who  lived  during 
the  times  of  James  V.  and  Queen  Mary.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
John,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Lichd  Li,  fought  by  nearly  the 
whole  clan  against  the  MacLeans  of  Mull.  Allen  was  the  seventh  and 
last  of  Kingsburgh. 

The  removal  to  America  was  deliberately  considered  by  Allen  and 
Flora,  and  the  conclusion  was  probably  arrived  at  by  the  spirit  of 
emigration  that  had  seized  the  MacDonalds. 


CHAPTER    VI. 
Flora  MacDonald  Removes  to  America. 

America  had  long  sought  emigrants  from  Europe,  and  some  of  the 
governors  of  the  provinces  interested  themselves  in  arranging  for  such 
settlers  as  were  seeking  new  homes.  North  Carolina  had  been  a  tempt- 
ing field.  The  region  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  presented  peculiar  at- 
tractions. It  was  a  beautiful  country,  the  climate  mild,  there  were  the 
tall  pines  on  the  uplands,  the  bottoms  covered  with  rich  canebrakes,  an 
abundance  of  small  game,  and  a  soil  adapted  to  the  general  wants. 
When  the  Highlanders  first  noticed  the  country  there  is  no  documentary 
evidence,  but  it  is  positively  known  that  there  was  a  settlement  at  the 
head  of  navigation  of  the  Cape  Fear  as  early  as  1729.  There  is  a  tra- 
dition that  many  Highlanders  had  located  on  the  river  immediately 
after  the  disastrous  rising  in  1715.  At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  Flora 
MacDonald  the  Highland  settlements  had  spread  beyond  the  Cape 
Fear,  and  as  high  up  as  the  confluence  of  the  Deep  and  Haw,  and  to 
the  Pedee  where  the  Yadkin  and  Uwharie  came  together,  and  embraced 
the  present  counties  of  Cumberland,  Harnett,  Moore,  Montgomery,  An- 
son, Richmond,  Robeson,  and  Scotland,  and  even  entering  beyond  the 
State  line  into  South  Carolina. 

The  greatest  migration  was  that  immediately  following  the  battle 
of  Culloden,  in  1746,  led  by  Neill  McNeill,  of  Jura,  the  people  having 
been  driven  from  their  homes  by  oppression.  These  emigrants  were 
of  the  very  best  types,  well  formed,  strong,  enterprising,  and  deeply 
religious.  Previous  to  this  time,  in  1739,  Neill  had  brought,  principally 
from  Argyleshire,  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  settled  them  on  the 
Cape  Fear.  Great  numbers  of  families,  during  the  years  1746  and 
1747,  came  to  North  Carolina,  and  settled  about  Cross  Creek  (now 
Fayetteville)  in  Cumberland  County.  There  was  a  North  Carolina 
mania  for  emigration  which  pervaded  all  classes,  from  the  poorest 
crofter  to  the  well-to-do  farmer,  and  men  of  easy  competence,  who 

28 


FLORA    MACDONALD   REMOVES   TO   AMERICA  29 

were,  according  to  an  appropriate  song  of  the  day,  "Dol  a  dh'iarruidh  an 
fhortain  do  North  Carolina." 

The  emigration  to  America  from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  was 
so  pronounced  that  the  Scottish  papers  made  frequent  reference  to  it 
and  bemoaned  the  prevalence.  The  Scots  Magazine  for  September, 
1769,  records  that  the  ship  Molly  sailed  from  Islay  on  August  21,  full 
of  passengers  for  North  Carolina,  which  was  the  third  emigration  from 
Argyle  "since  the  close  of  the  late  war."  A  subsequent  issue  of  the 
same  paper  states  that  fifty-four  vessels  full  of  emigrants  from  the 
Western  Islands  and  other  parts  of  the  Highlands  sailed  for  North 
Carolina  between  April  and  July,  1770,  conveying  twelve  hundred 
emigrants.  Early  in  1771,  the  same  magazine  states  that  five  hundred 
emigrants  in  Islay  and  adjoining  isles  were  preparing  to  sail  for  Amer- 
ica. Again  it  records  that  the  ship  Adventure  sailed  from  Loch  Erribol, 
Sunday,  August  17,  1772,  with  upwards  of  two  hundred  emigrants 
from  Sutherlandshire  for  North  Carolina.  Other  reports  might  be 
referred  to.  In  1772  the  great  MacDonald  emigration  commenced,  and 
continued  until  the  outbreak  of  the  American  Revolution.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  period  that  the  MacDonalds  outnumbered  any  of  the  other 
clans  in  North  America.  The  Revolution  stopped  emigration,  which 
did  not  break  out  again  until  1805. 

The  emigrants  maintained  their  manners,  customs,  language,  and 
religion,  all  of  which  have  now  changed,  except  their  religion,  which 
has  been  modified.  A  person  passing  through  the  North  Carolina 
country  inhabited  by  the  Scotch  Highlanders  would  have  seen  many 
a  warrior  who  had  fought  at  Preston,  at  Falkirk,  and  at  Culloden.  He 
was  still  the  plaided  warrior,  though  his  claymore  was  sheathed. 

The  MacDonald  emigration  swept  Allen  and  Flora  MacDonald 
into  its  current.  Flora  was  ready  and  willing  to  sacrifice  everything 
for  her  husband's  comfort,  and  to  accompany  him  to  any  quarter  where 
he  might  surmount  his  difficulties.  In  making  their  domestic  arrange- 
ments, the  son,  John,  was  placed  under  the  care  of  Sir  Alexander  Mac- 
Kenzie  of  Delvin,  until  he  was  of  age,  for  an  India  appointment,  and 
a  girl,  then  nine  years  of  age,  was  left  with  friends.  The  other  chil- 
dren accompanied  their  parents,  who  set  sail  on  board  the  Baliol  from 


30  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

Campbelton,  Kintyre,  for  North  Carolina,  in  the  month  of  August, 
1774.    They  left  the 

"Land  of  grey  rock  and  drifting  rain, 
Of  clamorous  brook  and  boisterous  main, — 
Of  treacherous  squall  and  furious  gale, 
That  bend  the  mast  or  rend  the  sail — 
Land  of  green  pine  and  harebell  blue, 
Of  furze  and  fern  of  various  hue ; 
Of  deep  ravine,  and  cavern  hoar ; 
Of  jutting  crag  and  dangerous  shore. 

"Land  of  the  pibroch  and  the  plaid ; 
Land  of  the  henchman  and  the  raid ; 
Land  of  the  chieftain  and  the  clan, 
Of  haughtv  laird  and  vassal-man, 
Of  Kelt,  of  Gael,  of  Catheran. 
Land   of  tall   cliff   and   lonely   dell, 
The  eagle's  perch,  the  outlaw's  cell ; — 
Land  of  the  brave,  the  fair,  the  good; 
Land  of  the  onslaught,  foray,  feud ; 
Land  of  the  ptarmigan  and  roe; 
Land  where  Glenlivat's  fountains  flow, 
Sparkling  and  bright  as  'mountain  dew,' 
The  heart  to  warm,  the  strength  renew. 
Land  of  the  long,  long  wintry  night, 
The  dancing,  streaming  boreal  light ; 
The  misty  morn,  the  brightening  noon, 
The  dewy  eve,  the  radiant  moon ; 
Land  of  the  sprightly  reel  and  glee; 
The  wraith,  the  fairy,  the  banshee; 
Land  where  the  patriot  loves  to  roam 
Far  distant  from  his  native  home ; 
And  yet,  on  every  foreign  strand, 
Still  sighing  for  his  native  land! 

"Land  of  basaltic  rock  and  cave, 
Where  tempests  howl  and  surges  rave ; 
Where  Fingal  sat  and  Ossian  sung, 
While  Staffa's  echoing  caverns  rung 
With  feats  achiev'd  by  heroes'  arms, 
With  tragic  tales  and  war's  alarms, 
With  lover's  vows  and  lady's  charms. 

"Land  of  the  heathery  hill  and  moor, 
Of  rude  stone  cot  and  cold  clay  floor; 
Of  barefoot  nymph  and  tartan'd  boor. 

"Land  of  the  kirk,  austere  and  pure, 
From  pope  and  prelacy  secure, — 
With  pastor  grave  and  flock  demure. 
Land  of  the  metaphysic  strife, 
Where  mortal's  lot  in  future  life 
Is  settled  by  presumptuous  man, 
Who  dares  the  Almighty's  ways  to  scan ! 


FLORA    MACDONALD   REMOVES   TO   AMERICA  31 


''Land  of  the  eagle's  airy  nest, 
On  Glencoe's  cliffs  or  Nevis'  crest; 
Land  of  the  lochs,  that  winding  sweep 
Round  mountain's  base  and  headland  steep. 
Land  of  the  tottering  keep  and  tower, 
O'er  moat  that  frown,  o'er  surge  that  lower ;- 
Land  of  the  thousand  isles  that  sleep 
'Twixt  lowering  cloud  and  murmuring  deep; 
Land  of  the  thousand  barks  that  ride 
O'er  curling  wave  or  confluent  tide; 
And,  without  aid  of  oar  or  sail, 
Urge  their  fleet  course  'gainst  tide  or  gale. 


"Land  where  the  torrents  leap  from  high, 
And  o'er  their  rocky  barriers  fly 
In  sheets  of  foam,  with  thundering  roar, 
Pown  through  the  dark  ravine  to  pour; 

''it  the  signal  gives  to   weigh; 
'i  he  w:-*  -':     .md  tides  brook  no  delay. 
Bleak  Mull,  farewell !    I  must  away." 

What  were  the  thoughts  of  Flora  MacDonald  as  she  caught  the 
last  glimpse  of  Skye,  or  how  deep  was  the  poetic  part  of  her  nature,  we 
will  never  know.  It  may  be  she  thought  the  sentiment,  if  not  the  lan- 
guage-of  the  poet : 

"Farewell,  lovely  Skye,  sweet  isle  of  my  childhood, 

Thy  blue  mountains  I  '11  clamber  no  more ; 
Thy  heath-skirted  corries,  green  valleys  and  wildwood, 

I  now  leave  behind  for  a  far-distant  shore. 
Adieu,  ye  stern  cliffs,  clad  in  old,  hoary  grandeur ; 

Adieu,  ye  still  dingles,  fond  haunts  of  the  roe. 

"How  painful  to  part  from  the  misty-robed  Coollin, 

The  Alps  of  Great  Britain,  with  antlered  peaks  high; 
Bold  Glamaig,  Coruisk,  and  sublime  Scuirnagillin, 

Make  mainland  grand  mountains  look  dull,  tame,  and  shy. 
Majestic  Quiraing,  fairy  place  of  Nature, 

Stormy  Idrigill,  Hailleaval,  and  cloud-piercing  Stoer, 
And  the  shining  Spar-cave,  like  some  beacon  to  heaven, 

All  I  deeply  lament,  and  may  never  see  more ! 

"Once  more,  dearest  isle,  let  me  gaze  on  thy  mountains, 

Once  more  let  the  village  church  gleam  on  my  view ; 
And  ray  ear  drink  the  music  of  murmuring  fountains, 

While  I  bid  to  my  old  and  my  young  friends  adieu. 
Farewell,  lovely  Skye,  lake,  mountain,  and  corrie; 

Brown  isle  of  the  valiant,  the  brave,  and  the  free ; 
Ever  green  to  thy  sod,  resting-place  of  my  Flora, 

My  sighs  are  for  Skye,  my  tears  are  for  thee." 


32  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

The  good  ship  Baliol  had  a  very  favorable  passage  to  the  Western 
World.  The  time  of  the  departure  of  Flora  MacDonald  was  known 
to  her  kindred  and  countrymen  in  North  Carolina,  where  she  was  anx- 
iously expected  and  joyfully  received  on  her  arrival.  Her  name  was 
as  well  known  among  them  as  it  was  in  Scotland,  and  held  in  just  as 
great  esteem.  Many  had  known  her  in  childhood  and  early  woman- 
hood, though  some  had  not  seen  her  since  the  rising  of  1745.  All  these 
people,  and  others,  felt  proud  of  the  prospect  that  she  should  cross  the 
ocean  to  become  one  of  their  number.  A  royal  welcome  was  determined 
upon,  which  was  actuated  by  a  genuine  feeling  of  love,  admiration,  and 
praise  for  her  heroism  and  noble  character.  Demonstrations,  on  a  large 
scale,  were  made  to  welcome  her  to  America,  and  her  new  home, 
wherever  she  might  decide  to  become  a  denizen.  Soon  after  her  landing 
a  largely-attended  ball  was  given  in  her  honor  at  Wilmington,  when 
she  was  greatly  gratified  by  the  special  attention  bestowed  on  her 
daughter,  Anne,  then  entering  into  womanhood,  and  of  surpassing 
beauty. 

From  Wilmington  the  Kingsburgh  family  proceeded  to  Cross 
Creek,  then  regarded  as  the  capital  of  the  Highland  settlement.  Before 
reaching  Cross  Creek  the  party  was  met  by  a  large  procession  in  order 
that  Flora  might  be  properly  escorted  into  their  midst.  As  she  ap- 
proached the  capital,  the  strains  of  the  Piobaircachd,  and  the  martial 
airs  of  her  native  land  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  multitude.  In  the  vast 
concourse  of  people  were  some  of  her  old  neighbors  and  kinsfolks, 
many  of  whom  had  crossed  the  Atlantic  years  before.  Their  faces, 
manner,  and  voices  bore  testimony  to  the  welcome  of  the  heart.  Many 
families  of  distinction  pressed  upon  her  to  make  their  dwellings  her 
home,  but  she  respectfully  declined,  preferring  a  settled  abode  of  her 
own. 

As  the  Laird  of  Kingsburgh  had  decided  to  become  a  planter,  he 
left  his  family  in  Cross  Creek  until  he  had  secured  a  permanent  loca- 
tion. The  house  in  which  the  family  is  said  to  have  lived  during  this 
period  was  built  immediately  upon  the  brink  of  the  creek,  and  for 
many  years  after  was  known  as  "Flora  MacDonald's  house,"  although 
during  my  brief  visit  there  four  different  spots  were  pointed  out  as 
being  the  site  of  her  residence.     It  is  possible  that  the  various  places 


FLORA    MACDONALD   REMOVES   TO   AMERICA  33 

are  remembered  from  the  fact  that  she  was  there  entertained.  Durinsr 
her  stay  she  visited  and  received  visits  from  her  friends,  one  of  whom 
was  Mrs.  Rutherford,  afterwards  Mrs.  McAuslin,  who,  at  that  time, 
lived  in  a  house  known  as  the  "Stuart  Place,"  north  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Here  she  saw  a  painting-  which  represented  "Anne  of  Jura," 
assisting  the  prince  to  escape.  "Turn  the  face  of  that  picture  to  the 
way  she  said.  "Never  let  it  see  the  light  again.  It  belies  the  truth 
of  history.  Anne  of  Jura  was  na'  there,  and  did  na'  help  the  bonnie 
prince." 

A  large  number  of  MacDonalds,  principally  from  Skye  and  Raasay, 
and  kinsmen  of  Kingsburgh,  had  settled  northwest  of  Cross  Creek,  a 
distance  of  twenty  miles,  about  a  hill  some  six  hundred  feet  in  heieht 
now  called  Cameron's  Hill,  but  then  known  as  Mount  Pleasant.     Here 
Kingsburgh  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  the  record  of  the  deed  is  . 
still  preserved  in  the  court-house  at  Fayetteville.     Hard  by  are  the  I 
sources  of  Barbaque  Creek,  and  not  many  miles  down  the  stream  stood 
the  old  kirk,  where  the  clansmen  worshipped,   and  where  Flora  in- 
scribed her  name  on  the  roll  of  membership.     This  church,  with  that 
called  Longstreet  (where  Flora  also  at  times  worshipped)  appears  to 
have  been  founded  in  1758  by  Rev.  James  Campbell,  a  native  of  Camp- 
belton,  Argyleshire,  Scotland.     But  at  the  time  of  Flora's  arrival  the 
churches  were  served  by  Rev.  John  McLeod. 

Having  been  persuaded  by  Colonel  Ma'cQueen,  Allen  disposed  of 
his  estate  and  removed  farther  west,  and,  in  January,  1776,  purchased 
of  Caleb  Touchstone  a  tract  of  land  numbering  550  acres,  then  in 
Anson  County,  but  now  forming  a  part  of  Richmond.  The  plantation 
is  located  eighteen  miles  north  of  Rockingham,  two  miles  north  of 
Capel's  Mills,  on  Mountain  Creek,  and  about  five  miles  north  of  Ellerbe 
Springs.  Allen  named  the  estate  Killiegrey,  which  contained  a  dwell- 
ing and  out-houses,  which  were  more  pretentious  than  was  then  cus- 
tomary among  Highland  settlers.  The  outlay  cost  him  four  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds.  The  new  home  was  situated  in  the  heart  of  the 
pinery  region,  and  in  every  direction  the  great  pine  forest  stretched 
forth.  Here  the  Kingsburgh  family  immediately  established  itself,  and 
Flora  felt  assured  that  with  her  family  she  would  spend  her  remaining 
days  in  peace  and  happiness.     Flora  and  Allen,  her  husband,  were  the 


34  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

most  commanding  figures  among  all  the  Highlanders  in  North  Carolina. 
Their  influence  was  everywhere  felt  and  acknowledged.  The  power 
for  good  was  placed  in  their  hands,  and  wisdom  would  have  suggested 
that  in  wielding  it  a  conservative  policy  should  be  pursued. 


CHAPTER    VII. 
Rising  of  the  Highlanders  in  1776. 

The  dreams  of  Flora  MacDonakl  of  peace,  happiness,  and  pros- 
perity were  doomed  to  a  rude  awakening.  Before  she  was  well  settled 
in  her  new  home  the  storm  of  the  American  Revolution  burst  upon  her 
in  all  its  fury.  That  she  was  partially  responsible  for  the  final  disaster 
that  accomplished  the  complete  financial  ruin  of  the  family  is  beyond 
question ;  for  she  was  an  active  participant  in  arousing  the  Highlanders 
to  resistance.  Without  any  hesitation  she  used  her  powerful  influence 
in  forcing  the  insurrection  of  1776.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  disaster 
would  not  have  overtaken  the  family  had  Kingsburgh  refrained  from 
precipitating  himself  into  the  conflict  needlessly  and  recklessly.  His 
age  and  past  experience  should  have  influenced  his  course,  and  bade 
him  remain  a  silent  spectator  of  the  conflict.  With  blind  .fatuity  he 
took  the  wrong  side  in  the  struggle,  and  even  then,  by  the  exercise  of 
patience  he  might  have  overcome  the  effects  of  his  folly. 

The  British  authorities  bent  on  the  subjugation  of  the  Thirteen 
Colonies,  looked  to  the  formidable  Highland  Scotch  settlements  along 
the  Cape  Fear  and  the  Mohawk  for  assistance.  The  frightful  atrocities 
following  the  disaster  on  Drummossie  Muir,  and  the  relentless  perse- 
cution of  the  Highland  clans  did  not  wean  that  hardy  race  from  the 
merciless  hand  of  the  victor.  The  American  Revolution  found  all  Scot- 
land its  pitiless  foe.  Petition  after  petition  went  up  from  city,  town, 
and  hamlet  to  George  III.,  expressing  intense  feelings  against  the 
Americans,  and  all  protesting  that  the  respective  petitioners  were  the 
most  loyal  subjects.  Over  seven  thousand  Highlanders,  born  in  Scot- 
land, fought  against  Washington  and  his  compatriots. 

The  records  demonstrate  that  the  emigrants  from  the  Highlands 
were  received  with  open  arms  by  the  colonists  and  rendered  every 
assistance  needed.  Some  of  the  emigrants  were  destitute  even  of 
the  means  of  procuring  assistance.     Even  after  the  call  to  armed  re- 

35 


36  FLORA    MACDONALD    IX    AMERICA 

sistance  had  been  obeyed,  a  shipload  of  Highlanders  was  stranded  in 
Virginia,  and  every  care  was  rendered  by  the  colonists. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities,  the  Highlanders  became  an 
object  of  consideration  to  the  contending  parties.  They  were  numeri- 
cally strong,  increasing  in  numbers,  and  their  military  qualities  second 
to  none.  British  emissaries  were  sent  among  all  of  them,  though  it 
was  known  that  their  inclination  strongly  favored  the  royal  cause,  and 
that  side  left  no  means  untried  to  cement  their  loyalty,  even  to  appeals 
to  their  religious  natures.  To  counteract  the  efforts  of  the  royalists  the 
Americans  were  at  a  great  disadvantage,  because  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  secure  a  Gaelic-speaking  minister,  clothed  with  authority  to  go 
among  them.  Even  the  resources  and  loyalty  of  Rev.  James  Campbell 
would  be  counteracted  by  Rev.  John  McLeod,  because  he  stood  nearer 
to  the  MacDonalds  and  MacLeods,  the  two  dominant  clans.  His  sym- 
pathies were  thrown  against  the  Americans,  and  his  actions  were  of 
such  a  nature  that  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  arrest  him,  but  he  was 
discharged  on  May  11,  1776. 

No  steps  were  taken  by  the  Americans  to  enroll  the  Highlanders 
into  military  companies.  Their  efforts  were  made  to  enlist  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  clansmen.  On  the  other  hand,  the  royal  governor,  Josiah 
Martin,  took  steps  to  enroll  the  North  Carolina  settlers  into  active 
British  service.  The  governor  was  in  constant  communication  with 
them,  and,  in  a  measure,  directed  their  movements.  Allen  MacDonald 
of  Kingsburgh  was  the  recognized  leader.  As  early  as  July  3,  1775, 
he  went  to  Fort  Johnson,  and  there  concerted  with  Governor  Mar- 
tin regarding  the  raising  of  a  battalion  of  "good  and  faithful  High- 
landers," fully  calculating  on  the  recently-settled  MacDonalds  and  Mac- 
Leods. Prior  communications  were  held  between  Martin  and  Kings- 
burgh, because  the  former  recommended  that  the  latter  should  be 
appointed  major,  in  his  communication  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  on  June  30 
preceding.  In  the  report  of  the  same  to  the  same,  dated  November  12, 
1775,  the  statement  is  made  that  Kingsburgh  had  raised  a  company, 
as  had  also  his  son-in-law,  Alexander  MacLeod.  From  the  official  rec- 
ords, it  may  therefore  be  seen  that  the  Laird  of  Kingsburgh  was  not 
drawn  into  the  controversy  under  restraint  or  under  solicitation.  How 
far  his  early  steps  in  the  matter  were  influenced  by  his  wife,  Flora,  will 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  •  37 

never  be  known ;  but,  in  all  probability,  he  took  no  action  without  her 
knowledge  and  consent.  Whatever  view  we  may  take  of  their  action, 
whether  it  be  censure  or  praise,  it  must  be  admitted  that  both  were  gov- 
erned by  their  sense  of  right  and  justice.  It  is  but  fair  in  judging  the 
motives  of  every  one  to  put  ourselves  exactly  in  the  position  of  the 
one  adjudged.    The  sense  of  right,  per  se,  is  an  entirely  different  thing. 

It  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  the  Provincial  Congress  of  North  Car- 
olina, and  other  patriotic  bodies,  were  not  aroused  in  every  particular. 
We  find  that  the  Congress,  on  August  23,  1775,  appointed  from  among 
its  members  Archibald  MacLaine,  Alexander  McAllister,  Farquhard 
Campbell,  Alexander  McKay,  and  others,  "a  committee  to  confer  with 
the  gentlemen  who  have  lately  arrived  from  the-  Highlands  in  Scot- 
land to  settle  in  this  province,  and  to  explain  to  them  the  nature  of  our 
unhappy  controversy  with  Great  Britain,  and  to  advise  and  urge  them 
to  unite  with  the  other  inhabitants  of  America  in  defense  of  their 
rights  which  they  derive  from  God  and  the  Constitution." 

Governor  Martin  stood  ready  to  precipitate  matters  and  involve 
the  Highlanders  in  a  quarrel  with  the  other  inhabitants ;  for  in  his 
letter  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  of  June  30,  1775,  he  declares  he  "could 
collect  immediately  among  the  emigrants  from  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland,"  "three  thousand  effective  men,"  and  begs  permission  "to 
raise  a  battalion  of  a  thousand  Highlanders  here,"  and  "I  would 
most  humbly  beg  leave  to  recommend  Mr.  Allen  MacDonald  of 
Kingsburgh  to  be  major,  and  Captain  Alexd.  McLeod  of  the  marines 
now  on  half-pay  to  be  first  captain,  who,  besides  being  men  of  great 
worth  and  good  character,  have  most  extensive  influence  over  the  High- 
landers here,  a  great  part  of  which  are  of  their  own  names  and 
families." 

On  November  12,  following,  the  governor  .again  writes  that  he  can 
"assure  your  lordship  that  the  Scotch  Highlanders  here  are  generally 
and  almost  without  exception  staunch  to  government,"  and  that  Captain 
Alexander  McLeod,  a  gentleman  from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  and 
late  an  officer  in  the  marines,  who  has  been  settled  in  this  province 
about  a  year  and  is  one  of  the  gentlemen  I  had  the  honor  to  recommend 
to  your  lordship  to  be  appointed  a  captain  in  the  battalion  of  High- 
landers, I  proposed  with  his  Majesty's  permission  to  raise  here,  found 


38  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

his  way  down  to  me  at  this  place  about  three  weeks  ago,  and  I  learn 
from  him  that  he  is,  as  well  as  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Allen  Mac- 
Donald,  proposed  to  me  for  major  of  the  intended  corps,  moved  by  my 
encouragements  have  each  raised  a  company  of  Highlanders  since 
which  a  Major  McDonald  who  came  here  some  time  ago  from  Boston 
under  the  orders  from  General  Gage  to  raise  Highlanders  to  form  a 
battalion*  to  be  commanded  by  Lieut.  Coll.  Allan  McLean,  has  made 
them  proposals  of  being  appointed  captains  in  that  corps,  which  they 
have  accepted  on  the  condition  that  his  Majesty  does  not  approve  my 
proposal  of  raising  a  battalion  of  Highlanders  and  reserving  to  them- 
selves the  choice  of  appointments  therein  in  case  it  shall  meet  with  his 
Majesty's  approbation  in  support  of  that  measure." 

The  activities  of  the  royalists  during  the  year  1775  were  so  pro- 
nounced as  to  cause  the  patriots  to  be  on  the  alert.  For  some  reason 
the  Highlanders  were  visited  by  General  Lachlan  Mcintosh  of  the 
Georgia  Highlanders,  who  was  born  in  Badenoch,  Scotland,  in  1725, 
but  had  been  in  America  since  the  age  of  eleven.  He  used  every  argu- 
ment in  his  power  to  induce  his  countrymen  in  North  Carolina  to 
remain  neutral  in  the  conflict  then  impending,  as  it  was  the  only  safe 
and  consistent  course  for  them  to  take.  In  answer,  the  agents  of  Gov- 
ernor Martin  appealed  to  their  professions  of  loyalty,  their  love  of 
their  native  country,  that  all  efforts  against  the  king  had  proved 
abortive,  and  that  all  who  resisted  the  government  would  be  dealt  with 
as  were  their  fathers  and  brothers  after  the  battle  of  Culloden,  besides 
reminding  them  of  their  oath  of  allegiance. 

Against  these  delusive  arguments  General  Mcintosh  reminded 
them  that  they  had  no  attachment  for  the  reigning  house  of  Hanover, 
and  there  was  no  inducement  to  risk  anything  in  maintaining  its  au- 
thority ;  that  they  had  already  suffered  severely,  on  several  occasions, 
by  the  arbitrary  and  unjust  measures  of  the  present  government,  and 
that  they  need  expect  nothing  better  in  times  to  come.  He  further 
assured  them  that  if  they  would  remain  quietly  at  home,  he  had  no 
doubts  that  he  would  succeed  in  procuring  their  safety  and  peace. 
The  appeals  of  Mcintosh  were  so  forcible  that  all  consented  save  a  few- 
military  characters,  some  hot-headed  young  men.  and  a  majority  of 


'For  an  account  of  this  regiment  see  MacLean's  Scotch  Highlanders  in  America,  Chapter  XIII. 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  39 

Clans  MacDonald  and  MacLeod.  Unfortunately,  directly  after  his 
departure  the  arrival  of  Donald  McDonald  and  Donald  McLeod,  as- 
sisted hy  the  Laird  of  Kingsburgh,  overturned  the  good  that  had  been 
reached.  McDonald  was  sixty-five  years  of  age,  had  fought  at  Cul- 
loden  and  Bunker  Hill,  and  was  sent,  with  McLeod,  from  Boston,  by 
General  Gage,  to  take  command  of  the  Highlanders  in  North  Carolina. 
They  came  by  way  of  Newbern,  where  they  were  arrested,  but  pre- 
tended that  they  were  wounded  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  had  left  the  army 
with  the  design  of  settling  among  their  friends.  They  arrived  in  June, 
1775,  and  immediately  set  out  on  their  mission. 

The  Laird  of  Kingsburgh  early  came  under  the  suspicion  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  at  Wilmington.  On  the  very  day,  July  3,  1775, 
he  was  in  consultation  with  Governor  Martin,  its  chairman  was  di- 
rected to  write  to  him  "to  know  from  himself  respecting  the  reports 
that  circulate  of  his  having  an  intention  to  raise  troops  to  support  the 
arbitrary  measures  of  the  ministry  against  the  Americans  in  this  col- 
ony, and  whether  he  had  not  made  an  offer  of  his  services  to  Governor 
Martin  for  that  purpose:" 

On  August  21,  1775,  the  Provincial  Congress  began  its  session  at 
Hillsboro.  Cumberland  County  was  represented  by  Farquhard  Camp- 
bell, Thomas  Rutherford,  Alexander  McKay,  Alexander  McAlister, 
and  Daniel  Smith.  Campbellton  sent  Joseph  Hepburn.  Among  the 
members  of  this  Congress  having  distinctly  Highland  names,  besides 
those  already  mentioned,  were  John  Campbell  and  John  Johnston  from 
Bertie,  Samuel  Johnston  of  Chowan,  Duncan  Lamon  of  Edgecombe, 
John  McNitt  Alexander  of  Mecklenburg,  Kenneth  McKenzie  of  Mar- 
tin, Jeremiah  Frazier  of  Tyrell,  William  Graham  of  Tryon,  and  Archi- 
bald Maclaine  of  Wilmington.  One  of  the  acts  of  this  Congress  was 
to  divide  the  State  into  military  districts  and  the  appointment  of  field 
officers  of  the  Minute  Men.  For  Cumberland  County,  Thomas  Ruther- 
ford was  appointed  colonel ;  Alexander  McAllister,  lieutenant-colonel ; 
Duncan  McNeill,  first  major;  Alexander  McDonald,  second  major. 
One  company  of  Minute  Men  was  to  be  raised.  The  act  was  passed 
on  September  9. 

How  many  proved  unfaithful  to  the  interests  at  first  avowed,  I 
am  unable  to  determine.    Prominent  among  those  who  proved  recreant 


40  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

to  their  trust  we  find  the  names  of  Thomas  Rutherford  and  Farquhard 
Campbell.    The  latter  dealt  treacherously  with  both  sides. 

During  the  year  1775  no  overt  acts  were  committed,  although  in 
the  northern  provinces  the  contest  had  become  bloody,  and  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  had  an  army  besieging  Boston.  True,  military  com- 
panies had  been  formed  by  both  contestants,  and  as  late  as  November 
and  December,  1775,  the  two  parties  in  Cross  Creek  mustered  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  village,  then  returned  into  town  and  lived  in  great 
harmony. 

On  the  Cape  Fear  were  intelligent,  public-spirited,  and  patriotic 
men  who  were  determined  to  resist  all  encroachments,  and  who  became 
very  active  in  impressing  upon  the  people  of  their  respective  neighbor- 
hoods the  duty  and  importance  of  maintaining  their  liberties  and  re- 
sisting the  oppression  of  the  English  government.  Among  these  the 
most  noted  were  Colonels  James  Moore,  John  Ashe,  Alexander  Lilling- 
ton,  Robert  Rowan,  and  Thomas  Robeson. 

The  early  intrigues  by  the  British  agents  with  the  Scotch  Hi 
landers  were  more  guessed  at  than  known  by  the  patriots.  The  early 
days  of  1776  saw  the  masque  torn  from  the  face,  and  the  intrigues 
reached  their  culmination.  The  war  party  among  the  Highlanders  was 
greatly  in  the  ascendant.  The  Americans,  while  at  first  they  felt  anx- 
ious, now  had  their  feelings  changed  to  bitterness,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  they  were  not  only  precipitating  themselves  into  a  quarrel  in  which 
they  had  no  special  cause,  but  also  wrere  exhibiting  ingratitude  to  those 
who  had  been  their  benefactors.  Up  to  this  time  the  Americans  had 
only  sought  a  redress  of  grievances,  and  but  very  few  foresaw  the  ulti- 
mate outcome.  True,  the  Highlanders  had  viewed  the  matter  from  a 
different  standpoint.  They  failed  to  realize  the  craftiness  of  Governor 
Martin  in  compelling  all  who  had  recently  arrived  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  which,  with  all  the  sacredness  of  religion,  they  felt  to  be 
binding.  They  had  ever  been  taught  that  all  promises  were  sacred. 
and  a  liar  was  a  greater  criminal  than  a  thief.  Still,  it  must  lie  granted. 
they  had  every  opportunity  to  learn  the  true  status  of  the  situation  ; 
independence  had  not  yet  been  proclaimed  ;  Washington  was  still  in  his 
trenches  about  Boston,  and  the  Americans  continued  to  petition  the 
British  throne  to  take  cognizance  of  their  grievances. 


RISING    OF   THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  41 

What  the  Highlanders  expected  to  gain  by  their  proposed  actions 
would  be  difficult  even  to  conjecture.  They  certainly  failed  to  realize 
the  condition  of  the  country,  and  the  insuperable  difficulties  to  be  over- 
come before  they  could  make  a  junction  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Even 
should  they  assemble  peaceably  in  Wilmington,  there  they  would  be  one 
hundred  miles  from  their  homes  and  families,  who  would  necessarily 
be  at  the  mercy  of  their  enemies,  who  had  become  bitter  on  account 
of  their  own  actions.  They  were  blinded  and  exhibited  a  want  of 
ordinary  foresight.  There  was  also  an  exhibition  of  reckless  indiffer- 
ence of  the  responsible  parties  to  the  welfare  of  those  they  had  so  suc- 
cessfully duped.  During  all  the  years  which  have  elapsed  since  their 
ill-advised  action,  though  treated  with  the  utmost  charity,  their  bravery 
applauded,  even  by  their  descendants  they  have  been  condemned  for 
their  rude  precipitancy,  besides  failing  to  realize  the  changed  condi- 
tion of  affairs,  and  not  resenting  the  injuries  they  had  received  from 
the  House  of  Hanover  that  had  harried  their  country  and  hanged  their 
fathers  on  the  murderous  gallows-tree. 

Lieutenant  Alexander  McLean  and  Donald  McLeod  had  been  the 
trusted  agents  of  Governor  Martin  to  the  back  counties  of  North  Car- 
olina. They  had  returned  with  flattering  reports,  which  he  was  not 
slow  in  transmitting  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Based  partly  on  these 
reports,  a  vigorous  campaign  was  determined  on  for  1776,  the  brunt 
of  which  was  to  fall  upon  North  Carolina.  The  program  was  for  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  with  a  fleet  of  ships  and  seven  corps  of  Irish  regulars,  to 
be  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  early  in  the  year  1776,  and  there  form 
a  junction  with  the  Highlanders  and  others  to  be  raised  from  the  in- 
terior. Believing  that  this  armament  would  arrive  in  January  or  early 
in  February,  Martin  made  preparations  for  the  revolt ;  for  his  "un- 
wearied, persevering  agent,"  Alexander  McLean,  brought  written 
assurances  from  the  principal  persons  to  whom  he  had  been  directed, 
that  between  two  and  three  thousand  men  would  take  the  field  at  the 
governor's  summons.  Under  this  encouragement  McLean  was  again 
sent  into  the  back  country  with  a  commission  dated  January  10,  1776. 
authorizing  Allen  MacDonald,  Donald  MacDonald,  Alexander  McLeod, 
Donald  McLeod,  Alexander  McLean,  Allen  Stewart,  William  Camp- 
bell, Alexander  McDonald,  and  Neal  McArthur,  of  Cumberland  and 


42  FLORA    MACDONALD    IX    AMERICA 

Anson  counties,  besides  seventeen  other  persons,  not  connected  with  the 
Highlanders,  who  resided  in  a  belt  of  counties  in  middle  Carolina,  to 
raise  and  array  all  the  king's  loyal  subjects,  and  to  march  them  in  a 
body  to  Brunswick  by  February  15. 

It  has  been  argued  because  Allen  MacDonald  of  Kingsburgh's 
name  appears  first  in  the  list,  it  was  designed  by  Governor  Martin  that 
he  should  be  first  in  command.  This  conclusion  is  not  warranted  by 
the  facts.  Donald  MacDonald  was  sent  direct  from  Boston  in  order 
to  take  military  command  of  the  troops,  and  for  several  months  had 
been  on  the  ground.  He  came  with  the  commission  of  major,  and 
Martin  had  no  authority  to  issue  a  higher  commission.  Besides  this, 
the  commission  of  Donald  antedates  that  of  Allen.  Martin  did  com- 
mission Donald  brigadier-general,  but  this  was  unauthorized.  Said 
commission  is  still  in  Fayette  ville.  If  Allen  had  any  experience  as  a 
military  commander  the  fact  has  not  been  recorded  in  history.  He 
was  in  hiding  for  a  while  after  the  battle  of  Culloden,  but  this  was 
on  account  of  the  arrest  of  old  Kingsburgh,  his  father. 

Upon  receiving  his  orders  from  Governor  Martin,  at  once  General 
MacDonald  issued  the  following : 

By  His  Excellency  Brigadier-General  Donald  McDonald,  Com- 
mander of  His  Majesty's  Forces  for  the  time  being  in  North  Carolina: 

"a  manifesto. 

Whereas,  I  have  received  information  that  many  of  I  lis  Maj- 
esty's faithful  subjects  have  been  so  far  overcome  by  apprehension  of 
danger  as  to  fly  before  His  Majesty's  Army  as  from  the  most  inveterate 
enemy;  to  remove  which,  as  far  as  lies  in  my  power,  I  have  thought  it 
proper  to  publish  this  Manifesto,  declaring  that  I  shall  take  the  proper 
steps  to  prevent  any  injury  being  done,  cither  to  the  person  or  proper- 
ties of  His  Majesty's  subjects;  and  I  do  further  declare  it  to  be  un- 
determined resolution,  that  no  violence  shall  be  used  to  women  and 
children,  as  viewing  such  outrages  to  be  inconsistent  with  humanity, 
and  as  tending  in  their  consequences  to  stilly  the  arms  of  Britons  and 
soldiers. 

I,  therefore,  in  His  Majesty's  name,  generally  invite  every  well- 
wisher  to  that  form  of  government  under  which  they  have  so  happily 
lived,  and  which,  if  justly  considered,  ought  to  be  esteemed  the  best 
birthright  of  Britons  and  Americans,  to  repair  to  His  Majesty's  Royal 
Standard,  erected  at  Cross  Creek,  where  they  will  meet  with  every  pos- 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  43 

sible  civility,  and  be  ranked  in  the  list  of  friends  and  fellow-soldiers, 
engaged  in  the  best  and  most  glorious  of  all  causes,  supporting  the 
rights  and  constitution  of  their  country.  Those,  therefore,  who  have 
been  under  the  unhappy  necessity  of  submitting  to  the  mandates  of 
Congress  and  committees — those  lawless,  usurped,  and  arbitrary  tribu- 
nals—  will  have  an  opportunity  (by  joining  the  King's  Army),  to  re- 
store peace  and  tranquility  to  this  distracted  land — to  open  again  the 
glorious  streams  of  commerce — to  partake  of  the  blessings  of  insep- 
arable from  a  regular  administration  of  justice,  and  be  again  reinstated 
in  the  favorable  opinion  of  their  Sovereign. 

Donald  McDonald. 

By  His  Excellency's  command. 

Kenn  McDonald,  P.S. 

On  February  5.  after  a  conference  with  the  principal  leaders,  Gen- 
eral MacDonald  issued  another  manifesto  in  which  he  declares  it  to 
be  his  "intention  that  no  violation  whatever  shall  be  offered  to  women, 
children,  or  private  property  to  sully  the  arms  of  Britons  or  freemen 
employed  in  the  glorious  and  righteous  cause  of  rescuing  and  delivering 
this  country  from  the  usurpation  of  rebellion,  and  that  no  cruelty 
whatever  be  offered  against  the  laws  of  humanity,  but  what  resistance 
shall  make  necessary ;  and  that  whatever  provisions  and  other  neces- 
saries be  taken  for  the  troops  shall  be  paid  for  immediately ;  and  in 
case  any  person,  or  persons,  shall  offer  the  least  violence  to  the  families 
of  such  as  will  join  the  Royal  Standard,  such  person  or  persons  may 
depend  that  retaliation  will  be  made ;  the  horror  of  such  proceedings, 
it  is  hoped,  will  be  avoided  by  all  true  Christians." 

Manifestos  being  the  order  of  the  day,  Thomas  Rutherford,  erst- 
while patriot,  deriving  his  commission  from  the  Provincial  Congress, 
though  having  alienated  himself,  but  signing  himself  colonel,  also  issued 
one  in  which  he  declared  that  this  is  "to  command,  enjoin,  beseech,  and 
require  all  His  Majesty's  faithful  subjects  within  the  County  of  Cum- 
berland to  repair  to  the  King's  Royal  Standard,  at  Cross  Creek,  on  or 
before  the  sixteenth,  present,  in  order  to  join  the  King's  army ;  other- 
wise, they  must  expect  to  fall  under  the  melancholy  consequences  of 
a  declared  rebellion,  and  expose  themselves  to  the  just  resentment  of 
an  injured,  though  gracious  Sovereign." 

On  Februarv  1,  General  MacDonald  erected  the  roval  standard  at 


44  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

Cross  Creek,  in  the  public  square,  and  in  order  to  cause  the  High- 
landers to  respond  with  alacrity,  various  methods  were  employed  that 
the  military  spirit  might  be  freely  inculcated. 

The  call  came  like  an  emergency,  summoning  the  disaffected  to 
the  standard  of  the  king.  To  many  of  the  Highlanders  it  was  a  slogan, 
a  veritable  firey  cross  hurled  over  the  sand  hills  and  the  pine  forests. 
But  there  were  others  who  still  needed  awakening  and  appeared  to 
realize  that  danger  lurked  in  the  distance.  Those  holding  the  minor 
commissions  in  the  military  service  found  it  necessary  to  become  ex- 
ceedingly active  and  to  use  every  means  and  exertion  in  their  power. 
Efforts  were  not  only  made  among  the  Highlanders,  but  also  among 
the  Regulators,  who  generally  sympathized  with  the  British  notwith- 
standing their  terrible  defeat  at  the  battle  of  Alamance  on  May  16.  1771. 
The  rendezvous  of  the  latter  was  at  Cross  Hill,  less  than  two  miles 
from  the  present  town  of  Carthage,  where  about  five  hundred  as- 
sembled, some  of  whom,  however,  were  Highlanders.  Owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  Highland  army  moved  out  of  Cross  Creek  before  the 
time  appointed,  Colonel  William  Fields  failed  to  join  the  command. 
He  was  on  his  way  with  his  regiment,  but  learning  of  the  defeat  at 
Moore's  Creek,  returned  home. 

At  Cross  Hill  the  military  array  was  met  by  General  MacDonald, 
who  formally  erected  the  king's  standard,  and  had  the  governor's  proc- 
lamation read  along  with  the  military  commissions  which  had  been 
given.  An  organization  was  made  in  due  form,  so  far  as  was  prac- 
ticable, but  the  claims  for  office  were  too  great  to  be  satisfied. 

The  Scotch  were  an  entirely  different  people  from  the  Regulators. 
From  time  immemorial  they  had  been  warlike.  If  not  engaged  in  con- 
tending against  a  common  enemy,  they  had  their  training  in  the  conflict 
of  clan  against  clan.  No  land  of  the  same  territorial  limits  and  the 
same  population  abounds  more  in  legendary,  traditionary,  and  histori- 
cal narratives  of  hard-fought  battles,  personal  encounters,  and  perilous 
adventures.  Fortunately  the  accounts  have  been  preserved  by  their 
bards,  a  noted  class  even  from  the  days  of  Ossian  down  to  the  present 
hour.  During  the  long  nights  of  winter,  in  Scotland,  the  tales  were 
rehearsed  in  various  huts  where  the  people  would  assemble.  Then, 
again,  the  sound  of  the  pibroch  would  at  any  time  arouse  the  martial 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  45 

spirit  of  the  people,  from  the  mere  lad  to  the  man  of  great  age ;  for  old 
and  young  were  upon  the  field  of  carnage. 

At  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1776,  most  of  the  Highlanders 
had  reached  the  age  of  fifty  or  more,  and  had  imbibed  military  spirit 
from  infancy,  cherished  in  youth,  and  exhibited  the  same  in  manhood. 
In  America  all  the  legends  and  tales  were  taught  the  youth,  just  the 
same  as  though  they  were  living  on  the  ancient  clan  lands  of  Scotland. 

The  sound  of  the  pibroch  was  now  heard  in  the  pine  forests  of 
America  summoning  the  clansmen  to  arms.  Nightly  balls  were  inaugu- 
rated that  the  people  might  assemble  and  be  properly  enthused.  The 
war  spirit  of  Flora  MacDonald  was  stirred  within  her.  Night  after 
night  she  attended  these  gatherings;  addressed  the  men  in  their  native 
Gaelic,  and  urged  them  to  enter  the  king's  army.  During  the  day,  on 
horseback,  with  her  husband,  she  went  from  house  to  house  and  used 
her  persuasive  powers  to  excite  the  slow,  the  indifferent,  and  doubtful 
to  action.  To  her  personal  appeals  the  success  of  the  gathering  was 
largely  due. 

According  to  the  American  Historical  Review  of  1872,  the  follow- 
ing letter,  written  by  Flora  MacDonald,  was  preserved  in  Fayetteville 
in  1852:  - 

February  1,  1776. 
Dear  Maggie:  Allan  leaves  tomorrow  to  join  Donald's  standard 
at  Cross  Creek,  and  I  shall  be  alone  wi'  my  three  bairns.  Canna  ye 
come  and  stay  wi'  me  awhile?  There  are  troublous  times  ahead  I 
ween.  God  will  keep  the  right.  I  hope  all  our  ain  are  in  the  right, 
prays  your  good  friend,  Flory  McDonald. 

Other  influences  of  a  far  different  nature  were  at  work.  Caruthers, 
in  his  Revolutionary  Incidents,  gives  an  example,  in  the  case  of  Hugh 
MacDonald,  who  declared  that  General  MacDonald  and  Donald  Mac- 
Leod persuaded  the  Scotch  "to  step  forward  and  draw  their  broad 
swords,  as  their  forefathers  had  often  done,  in  defense  of  their  king, 
who  would  give  them  double  wages  and  double  honors."  "These  gen- 
tlemen, notwithstanding  their  influence  among  the  ignorant  Scotch, 
were  instigated  by  selfish  and  speculative  motives ;  and  not  only  they, 
but  their  subaltern  officers  also.  I  well  recollect,  though  only  entering 
on  my  fourteenth  year,  that  John  Martin,  who  called  himself  a  captain 


46  FLORA    MACDONALD    IX    AMERICA 

in  the  contemplated  regiment,  came  to  the  home  of  my  father,  who 
then  lived  near  the  place  now  known  by  the  name  of  Carthage,  in 
Moore  County ;  and,  after  causing  him  to  enlist,  told  him  that  he  must 
take  me  along  with  him.  My  father  said  that  I  would  be  of  no  service 
in  the  army  as  a  soldier,  and  as  his  wife  was  a  sickly  woman  and  the 
children  all  weakly,  I  would  be  useful  at  home  to  the  family.  'Net  er 
mind  your  family'  was  his  reply,  'he  will  count  one  to  procure  me  a 
commission,  and  he  will  draw  you  a  soldier's  pay.'  My  father  told  him 
that  would  be  unjust.  'If  you  do  not  take  him  with  you,  I  will  see 
you  hanged  when  we  see  the  king,'  was  his  reply  to  that ;  and  my  father 
was  afraid  of  his  threats,  knowing  that  when  offended  he  was  not  too 
strict  in  points  of  honor.  Five  days  after  this  they  were  embodied  and 
marched  to  Cross  Creek." 

At  length  the  time  arrived  for  the  gathering  at  Cross  Creek.  Then 
the  Highlanders  were  seen  coming  from  near  and  from  far,  from  the 
wide  plantations  on  the  river  bottoms,  and  from  the  rude  cabins  in 
the  depths  of  the  lonely  pine  forests,  with  the  claymore  at  their  side, 
in  tartan  garments  and  feathered  bonnet,  and  keeping  step  to  the  shrill 
music  of  the  bag-pipe.  There  came,  first  of  all,  Clan  MacDonaldr  with 
Clan  MacLeod  near  at  hand,  with  lesser  numbers  of  Clan  MacKenzie, 
Clan  MacRae,  Clan  MacLean,  Clan  MacKay,  Clan  MacLachlan,  and 
still  others.  There  were  also  about  two  hundred  Regulators.  As  may 
be  inferred,  all  who  were  capable  of  bearing  arms  did  not  respond, 
because  some  would  not  engage  in  a  cause  where  their  traditions  and 
affections  had  no  part,  some  of  whom  hid  in  the  swamps  and  others  in 
the  forest.  * 

The  number  assembled,  and  which  remained  with  the  army,  has 
been  variously  estimated,  the  figures  running  from  fifteen  hundred  to 
three  thousand.  Stedman,  an  officer  under  Cornwallis,  in  his  History 
of  the  American  War,  Vol.  I.,  page  182,  states  "the  army  of  the  loyal- 
ists consisted  of  about  eighteen  hundred  men,"  which  I  am  inclined  to 
think  is  about  correct,  though  Edmund  Burke  states  that  after  his 
defeat  General  MacDonald  admitted  he  had  three  thousand. 

There  appears  to  be  pretty  strong  evidence  that  in  the  host  there 
was  division  and  even  conflicting  claims  and  various  opinions  almost 
from    the   commencement    of    the    enterprise    to   the    final    overthrew. 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  47 

While  at  Cross  Creek  it  was  found  very  difficult  to  organize  and  ar- 
range the  companies,  regiments,  and  precedence  of  rank  so  as  to  give 
general  satisfaction  and  secure  harmonious  cooperation.  Those  who 
had  been  militia  officers  expected  to  hold  the  same  rank  in  the  army ; 
and,  on  this  principle  there  were  too  many  officers  for  the  requisite 
complement  of  men.  The  officers,  and  others  who  had  lately  arrived 
from  Scotland,  were  called  "new  comers,"  and  "new  Scotch,"  and 
looked  upon  with  jealousy  by  the  rest.  Those  who  had  been  born  in 
this  country  or  had  been  long  residents  were  unwilling  to  have  the 
"new  comers"  promoted  over  them.  General  MacDonald  was  forced 
to  exercise  all  his  wisdom  and  patience  in  tracing  back  their  family 
standing  and  inquiring  into  their  respective  qualifications  before  mak- 
ing a  decision.  To  give  entire  satisfaction  was  an  impossible  task. 
Some  were  so  highly  offended,  at  what  they  considered  an  injustice, 
and  others  failing  to  see  such  necessary  discipline  as  would  be  con- 
ducive to  success,  that  they  withdrew  and  soon  after  joined  the  pro- 
vincials. Nor  was  this  the  only  disturbing  element,  for  it  had  been 
given  out  that  the  governor  was  at  Campbelton  with  a  thousand  British 
regulars  to  receive  them,  and  this  report  had  accelerated  their  move- 
ments. On  approaching  their  encampment  they  saw  the  statement  was 
without  foundation,  and  large  numbers  turned  their  faces  homeward. 
Having  thus  been  deceived,  the  Regulators  lost  confidence  in  all  other 
representations  made  by  their  leaders,  and  in  consequence  hundreds 
retired. 

Amidst  the  dissensions  and  discouragements,  Flora  MacDonald 
arose  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  threw  the  weight  of  her  character, 
influence,  and  oratory  into  the  scale.  On  the  public  square,  near  the 
royal  standard,  in  Gaelic,  she  made  a  powerful  address,  with  all  her 
power,  exhibiting  her  genius  she  dwelt  at  length  upon  the  loyalty 
of  the  Scotch,  their  bravery,  and  the  sacrifices  her  people  had  made. 
She  urged  them  to  duty,  and  was  successful  in  exciting  all  to  a  high 
military  pitch.  When  she  had  concluded,  the  piper  asked  her  what 
tune  he  should  play.  Like  a  flash  she  replied,  "Give  them  leather 
breeches,"  which  was  probably  suggested  by  the  Scots  wearing  buck- 
skin breeches,  rolled  up  at  the  bottoms. 

The  movements  of  the  Highlanders  and  Regulators  were  carefully 


48  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

watched  by  the  patriots,  though  much  had  been  done  in*great  secrecy ; 
but  the  passing  of  armed  men  could  not  well  be  effectually  concealed. 

Cross  Creek  had  been  greatly  disturbed  for  months.  In  the  midst 
of  the  loyalists  there  were  a  few  sterling  patriots.  Robert  Rowan,  in 
the  early  stages  of  the  movement,  had  formed  an  independent  company, 
and  determined  to  find  out  the  action  of  the  community.  He  was  thus 
early  prepared  to  give  notice  of  what  was  in  motion. 

When  the  hosts  began  to  move  to  their  standards,  swift  messengers 
were  immediately  despatched  to  give  warning  to  the  patriot  leaders. 
At  Salisbury  the  district  Committee  of  Safety  met  on  February  6  and 
gave  orders  to  the  county  committees  to  embody  the  militia  and  minute 
men  and  send  them  forward.  Three  days  later  the  Tryon  committee 
directed  that  each  captain  should  detail  one-third  of  the  effective  men 
in  his  district  and  march  to  suppress  the  insurrection.  Everywhere  the 
country  was  alarmed  and  thoroughly  aroused.  At  the  west,  the  forces 
were  collected  at  Charlotte,  Salisbury,  and  Hillsboro.  On  the  tenth 
the  committee  at  New  Bern  directed  Colonel  Richard  Caswell  to  march 
immediately,  and  the  colonels  of  Dobbs,  Johnston,  Pitt,  and  Craven 
counties  were  ordered  to  join  Caswell  with  their  troops.  The  patriot 
forces  in  Mecklenberg,  Rowan,  Granville,  Bute,  Surry,  Guilford, 
Orange,  and  Chatham  were  hurried  to  the  scene  of  action. 

A  messenger  reached  Wilmington  on  the  ninth.  Colonel  James 
Moore  at  once  issued  orders  to  prepare  to  march  against  the  insurgents. 
For  eighty  hours  there  was  severe,  unremitting  labor  in  making  prep- 
arations. Colonel  Moore  moved  toward  Cross  Creek,  being  joined 
en  route  by  the  Bladen  militia.  Colonel  Alexander  Lillington  and  Col- 
onel John  Ashe  were  soon  in  the  field.  Nearly  nine  thousand  men 
were  in  motion,  and  all  the  rest  were  ready  to  turn  out  at  a  moment's 
notice.     It  was  determined  to  crush  out  the  rebellion  without  delay. 

The  loyalists  of  Surry  were  speedily  dispersed.  In  Guilford,  Col- 
onel James  Martin  assembled  the  patriots  at  the  "Cross  Roads,"  but 
the  loyalists  passed  on.  A  company  of  which  Samuel  Devinny,  one  of 
the  former  Regulators,  was  the  head,  being  opposed  by  Captain  Dent, 
killed  him.  It  thus  appears  that  Captain  Dent  was  the  first  in  North 
Carolina  to  fall  in  the  contest. 

The   rising   of   the   Highlanders   at   the   time   appointed   was    ill- 


RISING   OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  40 

advised,  and  showed  a  want  of  judgment  on  the  part  of  Governor 
Martin.  The  object  of  marching  the  Highlanders  to  Wilmington  was 
to  act  in  conjunction  with  a  British  fleet.  At  the  very  moment  of  the 
assembling  of  the  Highlanders  the  fleet  was  still  in  Cork,  Ireland,  and 
remained  there  until  February  12,  and  did  not  arrive  at  the  Cape  Fear 
until  May  3.  Even  if  the  Highland  army,  under  the  circumstances, 
had  reached  Wilmington,  it  would  have  fared  more  disastrously  than 
its  defeat  at  the  Widow  Moore's  Creek  Bridge. 

Deserted  by  the  Regulators,  and  the  Americans  swarming  around 
him,  General  MacDonald  found  it  to  be  necessary  to  take  his  depart- 
ure before  the  time  appointed.  Stedman,  in  his  History  of  the  Amer- 
ican War,  has  pointed  out  that  MacDonald  had  decided  to  avoid  all 
conflict,  and  to  gain  the  sea  coast  with  the  least  possible  cost.  That 
he  did  not  intend  to  act  offensively  is  proved  from  the  fact  that  at 
Rockfish  the  Americans  occupied  an  unsoldierly  position  and  one  that 
would  provoke  an  attack.  On  their  left  was  a  morass  with  a  deep 
swamp,  the  northwest  of  the  river  on  the  right,  and  the  deep  creek  of 
the  Rockfish  to  the  rear — all  of  which  invited  annihilation.  This  po- 
sition must  have  been  known  to  many  in  MacDonald's  army.  Then, 
again,  the  original  position  of  the  Americans  at  Moore's  Creek  Bridge 
was  almost  equally  as  dangerous,  and  if  MacDonald  had  charged  on 
his  arrival  there,  victory  would  have  been  easily  won.  Fortunately, 
however,  the  insecurity  of  the  position  did  not  escape  the  vigilance  of 
Colonel  Caswell,  and  as  soon  as  night  came  he  retreated  over  the  bridge. 
The  Highland  army  at  Cross  Creek  was  neither  prepared  for  battle 
nor  for  the  march,  despite  all  the  exertions  General  MacDonald  had 
put  forth.  The  armament  was  as  good  as  could  be  desired  under  the 
circumstances  and  did  not  lack  in  baggage  and  magazine  wagons. 

On  February  18,  the  Highland  army  took  up  its  line  of  march  for 
Wilmington,  and  as  the  regiments  filed  out  of  Cross  Creek,  Flora  Mac- 
Donald reviewed  them  from  under  an  oak  tree,  still  standing  on  Cool 
Spring  Street.  Then  mounting  her  snow-white  charger,  she  rode  up 
and  down  the  marching  columns,  and  animated  them  in  the  most 
cheerful  manner.  She  had  staked  much  on  that  army.  There  was  her 
husband,  Allen,  with  the  rank  of  major;  her  son,  Alexander,  a  captain, 
and  her  son-in-law,  Alexander  MacLeod,  a  colonel.    The  soldiers  were 


50  FLORA    MACDONALD    IX    AMERICA 

in  high  glee,  and  as  they  passed  along,  with  drums  beating,  pipes  play- 
ing, and  flags  flying,  they  sang  their  old  Scotch  songs  and  rehearsed 
the  stories  of  their  native  land. 

South  of  Cross  Creek  is  a  small  stream  called  Rockfish,  which 
flows  into  Cape  Fear  River.  Two  roads  lead  from  Cross  Creek  to  Wil- 
mington, one  called  the  Brunswick  road,  the  other  the  Negro  Head 
Point  Road.  The  Brunswick  Road  crosses  Rockfish  Creek,  which  was 
selected  by  General  MacDonald  for  his  route  to  Wilmington.  After 
marching  four  miles,  General  MacDonald  went  into  camp,  on  account 
of  the  American  forces  in  his  front. 

Flora  MacDonald  continued  with  the  army  until  it  reached  the 
brow  of  Haymount,  near  the  site  of  the  old  United  States  Arsenal, 
where  it  encamped  for  one  night.  In  the  morning  when  the  army  took 
up  the  line  of  march  midst  banners  streaming  in  the  breeze  and 
martial  music  floating  in  the  air,  Flora  took  her  departure.  It  was  with 
great  difficulty  that  her  husband  obtained  her  consent  to  return,  reason- 
ing that  his  life  was  enough  to  put  in  jeopardy.  Having  consented, 
she  embraced  her  husband,  her  eyes  dimmed  with  tears,  she  uttered  a 
fervent  prayer  for  his  safety  and  speedy  return  to  Killiegrey ;  she 
mounted  her  snow-white  horse,  rode  along  the  columns  of  the  army, 
encouraging  the  men,  then  retraced,  and  was  soon  in  Cross  Creek, 
accompanied  by  Malcolm  MacKay,  aged  sixteen.  The  first  night  she 
spent  with  Mrs.  MacKay,  Malcolm's  mother,  near  Longstreet.  From 
there  she  went  to  Killiegrey,  in  Anson  County,  where  she  remained 
until  the  estate  was  confiscated  by  the  Americans,  when  she  removed 
to  a  plantation  on  Little  River  belonging  to  Kenneth  Black.  This  con- 
tinued to  be  her  residence  until  she  left  America.  She  made  frequent 
visits  to  Cross  Creek  until  her  final  removal. 

General  James  Moore,  anticipating  the  movements  of  the  High- 
land army,  with  great  celerity  moved  up  the  Cape  Fear,  and  took  pos- 
session of  Rockfish  bridge,  on  the  fifteenth,  and  then  held  the  pass  and 
fortified  his  camp.  There  he  was  immediately  joined  by  Robert  Rowan 
with  sixty  men  from  Cross  Creek,  and  later  by  Lillington,  Ashe,  and 
Kenan  with  the  Duplin  militia,  increasing  the  whole  number  to  fifteen 
hundred.    In  the  meanwhile  Colonel  Thackston  and  Colonel  Alexander 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN     1776  51 

Martin  were  rapidly  approaching  from  the  west  with  still  larger  re- 
enforcements. 

On  the  nineteenth  the  royalists  were  paraded  with  a  view  to  assail 
General  Moore  on  the  following  night.  A  bare  suspicion  that  such 
a  prospect  was  contemplated  was  a  sufficient  cause  for  some  of  Col- 
ton's  men  to  run  off  with  their  arms.  This  condition  of  affairs  alarmed 
General  MacDonald.  However,  the  same  day  he  sent  General  Moore 
the  following: 

Headquarters,  February  19,  1776. 

Sir  :  I  herewith  send  the  bearer,  Donald  Morrison,  by  advice  of 
the  Commissioners  appointed  by  his  Excellency,  Josiah  Martin,  and  in 
behalf  of  the  army  now  under  my  command,  to  propose  terms  to  you 
as  friends  and  countrymen.  I  must  suppose  you  unacquainted  with 
the  Governor's  Proclamation,  commanding  all  his  Majesty's  loyal  sub- 
jects to  repair  to  the  King's  royal  standard,  else  I  should  have  imagined 
you  would,  ere  this,  have  joined  the  King's  army,  now  engaged  in  his 
Majesty's  service.  I  have  therefore  thought  it  proper  to  intimate  to 
you,  that,  in  case  you  do  not,  by  twelve  o'clock  to-morrow,  join  the 
Royal  standard,  I  must  consider  you  as  enemies,  and  take  the  necessary 
steps  for  the  support  of  legal  authority. 

I  beg  leave  to  remind  you  of  his  Majesty's  speech  to  his  Parlia- 
ment, wherein  he  offers  to  receive  the  misled  with  tenderness  and 
mercy,  from  motives  of  humanity.  I  again  beg  of  you  to  accept  the 
proferred  clemency.  I  make  no  doubt  but  you  will  show  the  gentle- 
man sent  on  this  message  every  possible  civility ;  and  you  may  depend 
in  return,  that  all  your  officers  and  men  which  may  fall  into  our  hands 
shall  be  treated  with  an  equal  degree  of  respect. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  in  behalf  of  the  army,  sir,  your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant,  Donald  McDonald. 

To  the  Commanding  Officer  at  Rockfish. 

P.  S.     His  Excellency's  Proclamation  is  herewith  enclosed. 

Knowing  that  Colonel  Martin  and  Colonel  Thackston  were  nearing 
the  neighborhood,  and  wishing  to  gain  time,  General  Moore  thus  re- 
plied to  the  missive : 

Camp  at  Rockfish,  February    19,  1776. 

Sir:     Yours  of  this  day  I  have  received;  in  answer  to  which,  I 

must  inform  you,  that  the  terms  which  you  are  pleased  to  say,  in  behalf 

of  the  army  under  your  command,  are  offered  to  us  as  friends  and 

countrymen,  are  such  as  neither  my  duty  nor  inclination  will  permit 


52  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

me  to  accept,  and  which  I  must  presume  you  too  much  of  an  officer  to 
expect  of  me.  You  were  very  ri.s^ht  when  you  supposed  me  unac- 
quainted with  the  Governor's  Proclamation ;  but  as  the  terms  therein 
proposed  are  such  as  I  hold  incompatible  with  the  freedom  of  Amer- 
icans, it  can  be  no  rule  of  conduct  for  me.  However,  should  I  not  hear 
further  from  you  before  twelve  o'clock  to-morrow,  by  which  time  I 
shall  have  an  opportunity  of  consulting  my  officers  here,  and  perhaps, 
Colonel  Martin,  who  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cross  Creek,  you  may 
expect  a  more  particular  answer ;  meantime,  you  may  be  assured  that 
the  feeling's  of  humanity  will  induce  me  to  show  that  civility  to  such 
of  you  as  may  fall  into  our  hands,  as  I  am  desirous  should  be  observed 
towards  those  of  ours  who  may  be  unfortunate  enough  to  fall  into 
yours. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

James  Moore. 

On  the  succeeding  day  General  Moore  sent  the  following  to  Gen- 
eral MacDonald : 

Camp  at  Rockfish,  February  20,  1776. 

Sir:  Agreeable  to  my  promise  of  yesterday,  I  have  consulted 
the  officers  under  my  command,  respecting  your  letter,  and  am  happy 
in  finding  them  unanimous  in  opinion  with  me.  We  consider  ourselves 
engaged  in  a  cause  the  most  glorious  and  honorable  in  the  world,  the 
defense  of  the  liberties  of  mankind,  in  support  of  which,  we  are  de- 
termined to  hazard  everything  dear  and  valuable ;  and  in  tenderness 
to  the  deluded  people  under  your  command,  permit  me,  sir,  through 
you,  to  inform  them,  before  it  is  too  late,  of  the  dangerous  and  de- 
structive precipice  on  which  they  stand,  and  to  remind  them  of  the 
ungrateful  return  they  are  about  to  make  for  their  favorable  reception 
in  this  country.  If. this  is  not  sufficient  to  recall  them  to  the  duty  which 
they  owe  to  themselves  and  their  posterity,  inform  them  that  they 
are  engaged  in  a  cause  in  which  they  cannot  succeed,  as  not  only  the 
whole  force  of  this  country,  but  that  of  our  neighboring  provinces,  is 
exerting,  and  now  actually  in  motion  to  suppress  them,  and  which  must 
end  in  their  utter  destruction.  Desirous,  however,  of  avoiding  the 
effusion  of  human  blood,  I  have  thought  proper  to  send  you  a  copy  of 
the  test  recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress,  which,  if  they  will 
yet  subscribe  and  lay  down  their  arms,  by  twelve  o'clock  to-morrow, 
we  are  willing  to  receive  them  as  friends  and  countrymen.  Should  this 
offer  be  rejected,  I  shall  consider  them  as  enemies  to  the  constitutional 
liberties  of  America,  and  treat  them  accordingly. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  reminding  you,  sir,  of  the  oath  which 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  53 

you  and  some  of  your  officers  took  at  New  Berne,  on  your  arrival  in 
this  country,  which  I  imagine  you  will  find  difficult  to  reconcile  to  your 
present  conduct.    I  have  no  doubt  that  the  bearer,  Captain  James  Wal- 
ker, will  be  treated  with  proper  civility  and  "respect  in  your  camp. 
I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

J.  MOORE. 

General  MacDonald  took  occasion  to  answer  the  communication" 
of  General  Moore  in  the  following  language : 

Headquarters,  February  20,  1776. 

Sir:  I  received  your  favor  by  Captain  James  Walker,  and  ob- 
served your  declared  sentiments  of  revolt,  hostility,  and  rebellion  to 
the  King,  and  to  what  I  understand  to  be  the  constitution  of  this 
country.  If  I  am  mistaken,  further  consequences  must  determine ;  but 
while  I  continue  in  my  present  sentiment,  I  shall  consider  myself 
embarked  in  a  cause  which  must,  in  its  consequences,  extricate' this 
country  from  anarchy  and  licentiousness.  I  cannot  conceive  that  the 
Scots  emigrants,  to  whom  I  imagine  you  allude,  can  be  under  greater 
obligations  to  this  country  than  to  'that  of  England,  under  whose 
gracious  and  merciful  government  they  alone  could  have  been  enabled 
to  visit  this  western  region ;  and  I  trust,  sir,  it  is  in  the  womb  of  time 
to  say,  that  they  are  not  that  deluded  and  ungrateful  people  which 
you  would  represent  them  to  be.  As  a  soldier  in  his  Majesty's  service, 
I  must  inform  you,  if  you  are  yet  to  learn,  that  it  is  my  duty  to  con- 
quer, if  I  cannot  reclaim,  all  those  who  may  be  hardy  enough  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  best  of  Masters,  as  of  Kings. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  in  behalf  of  the  armv  under  my  command, 
sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

To  James  Moore,  Esq.  Donald  McDonald. 

General  MacDonald  was  fully  aware  that  he  could  not  put  his 
threat  into  execution,  for  he  had  been  informed  that  the  minute-men 
were  gathering  in  swarms  around  him;  that  Colonel  Caswell  at  the 
head  of  the  minute-men  of  Newbern,  nearly  eight  hundred  strong,  were 
marching  through  Duplin  County  to  effect  a  junction  with  General 
Moore,  and  that  his  communications  with  the  seacoast  had  been  cut 
off.  Realizing  the  extremity  of  his  danger,  he  resolved  to  avoid  an 
engagement,  and  leave  the  army  at  Rockfish  in  his  rear,  and  by  celerity 
of  movements,  and  crossing  rivers  at  unexpected  places,  to  disengage 
himself  from  the  larger  bodies  and  fall  upon  the  command  of  Colonel 
Caswell.     Before  marching  he  exhorted  his  men  to  fidelity,  expressed 


54  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

bitter  scorn  for  the  "base  cravens  who  had  deserted  the  night  before,"' 
and  concluded  by  saying,  "If  any  amongst  you  are  so  faint-hearted  as 
not  to  serve  with  the  resolution  of  conquering  or  dying,  this  is  the  time 
to  declare  themselves."  The  speech  was  answered  by  a  general  huzza 
for  the  king,  but  from  Cotton's  corps  of  Regulators,  two  companies 
marched  off  the  field  and  returned  to  their  homes.  The  army  de- 
camped at  midnight,  retraced  their  steps  and  crossed  the  river  at 
Campbelton.  About  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-first,  the 
army,  with  the  baggage  having  been  landed  on  the  north  side,  de- 
stroyed or  sunk  the  boats,  to  prevent  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and 
then  resumed  its  march,  sending  a  party  fifteen  miles  in  advance  to 
secure  the  bridge  over  South  River  from  Bladen  into  Hanover,  pushing 
with  rapid  pace  over  swollen  streams,  rough  hills,  and  deep  morasses, 
hotly  pursued  by  General  Moore. 

Perceiving  the  purpose  of  the  enemy,  General  Moore  instantly 
put  in  execution  every  precaution.  He  sent  off  an  express  to  Colonel 
Caswell  directing  him  to  return  and  take  possession  of  Corbett's  Ferry 
over  Black  River,  for  the  purpose  of  harassing  the  enemy,  and  imped- 
ing its  progress.  Thackston  and  Martin  were  to  hold  possession  of 
Cross  Creek  and  prevent  a  retreat  in  that  direction,  and  Lillington  and 
Ashe  were  ordered  to  make  a  forced  march,  and,  if  possible,  reinforce 
Colonel  Caswell,  and  if  that  could  not  be  done,  then  to  take  possession 
of  the  Widow  Moore's  Creek  Bridge,  on  the  same  road  but  nearer  Wil- 
mington. Apprehending  that  the  enemy  might  attempt  to  pass  through 
Duplin,  pursuing  a  route  to  the  eastward,  the  bridges  of  that  county 
were  in  part  destroyed,  Colonel  Cray  holding  back  Salter's  company 
for  that  purpose,  and  all  the  inhabitants  held  themselves  ready  to  de- 
molish the  remainder  if  necessary  to  obstruct  the  march  of  the  loyalists. 
At  Wilmington,  Colonel  Purviance  prepared  to  arrest  the  boats  should 
the  enemy  descend  the  river,  and  with  this  intent  threw  a  boom  across 
the  stream  at  Mount  Misery,  four  miles  above  the  town,  and  there 
stationed  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  while  another  detachment  held 
the  pass  at  Heron's  Bridge,  ten  miles  out  on  the  northeast  branch. 

Having  dispatched  his  orders,  General  Moore,  with  the  remainder 
of  his  army,  hastened  to  Elizabethtown,  hoping  to  strike  MacDonald 
on  his  route  to  Corbett's  Ferry,  or  else  to  fall  on  his  rear  and  surround 


RISING    OF    THE    HIGHLANDERS    IN    1776  55 

him  at  the  river  before  he  could  cross.  On  the  twenty-fourth,  Moore 
crossed  the  Cape  Fear;  but  having  learned  that  Colonel  Caswell  was 
almost  entirely  out  of  provisions,  he  was  compelled  to  wait  there  until 
the  evening  of  the  next  day  for  a  supply.  Here  he  received  a  dispatch 
from  Colonel  Caswell  informing  him  that  the  enemy  had  raised  a  flat, 
which  had  been  sunk,  about  five  miles  above  him,  and  had  made  a 
bridge  by  which  the  whole  army  had  passed  over.  On  receiving  this 
intelligence,  General  Moore  moved  down  the  river  in  boats  to  Doller- 
son's  Landing,  about  sixty  miles,  and  thence  to  Moore's  Creek,  ten 
miles  from  the  landing.  On  the  twenty-sixth  he  arrived  at  Dollerson's 
in  the  afternoon. 

Caswell,  realizing  the  purpose  of  the  enemy,  changed  his  own 
course  in  order  to  intercept  the  march.  On  the  twenty-third,  General 
MacDonakl  thought  to  outwit  him,  and  arraying  the  Highlanders  in 
order  of  battle,  with  eighty  able-bodied  men,  armed  with  broadswords, 
forming  the  center  of  the  army ;  but  Caswell,  being  posted  at  Corbett's 
Ferry,  could  not  be  reached  for  want  of  boats.  Again  the  royalists 
were  in  extreme  danger,  but  at  a  point  six  miles  higher  up  the  Black 
River  they  succeeded  in  crossing  in  a  broad,  shallow  boat,  while  Mac- 
Lean  and  Fraser  were  left  with  a  few  men,  and  a  drum  and  fife,  to 
amuse  Caswell. 

Lillington,  on  the  twenty-fifth,  took  possession  of  Widow  Moore's 
Creek  Bridge ;  and  on  the  next  day  Caswell  reached  the  west  side, 
threw  up  a  slight  embankment,  and  destroyed  a  part  of  the  bridge. 
A  royalist,  who  had  been  sent  into  his  camp  under  pretext  of  summon- 
ing him  to  return  to  his  allegiance,  brought  back  the  information  that 
Caswell  had  halted  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  as  themselves,  and 
could  be  assaulted  to  advantage.  Caswell  was  both  a  good  woodsman 
and  a  man  of  superior  ability,  and  believing  that  he  had  misled  the 
enemy,  marched  his  column  to  the  east  side  of  the  stream,  removed  the 
planks  from  the  bridge,  greased  the  sleepers  with  soft  soap  and  tallow, 
and  then  placed  his  men  behind  trees  and  such  embankments  as  could 
be  thrown  up  during  the  night.  The  force  amounted  to  a  thousand 
men,  consisting  of  the  Newbern  minute-men,  the  militia  of  Craven, 
Dobbs,  Johnston,  and  Wake  counties,  besides  the  detachment  under 
Lillington.    The  men  of  the  Neuse  region,  their  officers  wearing  silver 


56 


FLORA    MACDOXALD    IN    AMERICA 


crescents  upon  their  hats,  inscribed  with  the  words,  "'Liberty  or  Death." 
were  in  front.  The  situation  of  the  Highlanders  was  again  perilous,  for 
while  facing  this  army,  Moore,  with  his  regulars,  was  close  upon  their 
rear. 


\MC OREL'S   CREEK    BRfDGE 


m   North    Carolina    Day,    1905) 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
Battle  of  Widow  Moore's  Creek  Bridge. 

The  Highland  army  was  in  a  position  where  it  could  neither  ad- 
vance nor  retreat.  General  MacDonald  had  proved  himself  fertile  in 
resources ;  but  it  was  now  doomed  to  be  deprived  of  his  guiding  hand, 
and  those  left  to  direct  the  army  were  not  equal  to  the  emergencies. 
The  general  was  taken  very  ill  and  confined  to  his  bed,  and  had  been 
left  at  a  house  some  eight  miles  from  the  scene  of  action,  and  this 
calamity  was  the  precursor  of  a  still  heavier  one  about  to  fall  like  a 
thunderbolt.  The  Highlanders  had  been  out-maneuvered,  and  the 
patriots  had  gained  an  advantageous  position,  forcing  the  enemy  either 
to  fight  or  else  to  take  a  course  which  would  bring  on  them  the  impu- 
tation of  cowardice  and  disconcert  their  plans. 

On  the  evening  before  the  battle  a  council  of  war  was  held,  pre- 
sumably in  the  presence  of  General  MacDonald,  the  main  object  of 
which  was  to  decide  the  question  whether  they  should  force  their  way 
through  their  adversaries,  or  determine  some  other  movement.  All  the 
old  and  experienced  officers,  among  whom  was  Colonel  Donald  Mac- 
Leod, then  in  command,  both  by  priority  of  rank  and  common  consent, 
were  strongly  opposed  to  battle,  contending  that  the  difficulty  and 
danger  of  forcing  their  way  in  the  face  of  an  enemy,  two-thirds  their 
nuinber,  so  strongly  posted,  defended  by  their  entrenchments,  mounted 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  protected  in  front  by  a  stream  that  was 
impassable  except  by  a  narrow  bridge,  which  could  be  raked  by  their 
guns,  were  too  great  to  be  attempted.  Besides,  on  good  authority,  it 
had  been  learned  that  by  making  a  detour  of  only  a  few  miles,  the 
stream  could  be  crossed  where  they  could  fight  on  equal  grounds. 
These  considerations,  so  sound  and  appealing  to  military  science,  were 
sneered  at  by  others,  and  especially  the  young,  self-conceited,  and  hot- 
headed MacLean,  adventurous,  spirited,  self-willed,  emphatically  de- 
manded courageous  action.  "Well,"  exclaimed  MacLeod,  as  he  closed 
the  council,  "at  dawn  to-morrow  we  will  prove  who  is  the  coward." 

57 


58  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

Colonel  MacLeod  determined  upon  an  early  attack,  and  at  one 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-seventh,  began  his  march,  but 
owing  to  the  time  lost  in  passing  an  intervening  morass,  it  was  within  an 
hour  i  >f  daylight  w  hen  they  reached  the  west  bank  of  the  creek.  Seventy 
men  were  selected,  of  the  stoutest  and  most  resolute  in  the  army,  and 
formed  into  a  company  under  the  command  of  Captain  John  Campbell, 
who  were  to  have  the  post  of  greatest  danger.  They  were  to  rush 
over  the  bridge  in  front  o!  the  army  and  storm  the  works,  sword  in 
hand.  The  fate  of  this  company  was  the  most  important,  for  on  it 
depended  the  issue  of  battle. 

The  Highlanders  advanced  through  the  open  pine  woods  on  a 
slope  of  descending  ground,  their  officers  well  dressed  in  gay  regi- 
mentals, banners  and  plumes  waving  in  the  breeze,  and  all  marching 
in  good  order  but  with  quick  step  to  the  sound  of  their  pibrochs,  while 
the  thrilling  notes  of  the  bugle  were  heard  in  the  distance,  making  a 
formidable  appearance.  Without  resistance  they  entered  the  ground ; 
but  seeing  Caswell's  forces  on  the  opposite  bank,  they  reduced  their 
columns  and  formed  the  line  of  battle  in  the  woods.  Their  rallying 
cry  was  "King  George  and  broadswords,"  and  the  signal  of  attack 
was  three  cheers,  the  drum  to  beat,  and  the  pipes  to  play.  While  it 
was  still  dark  MacLeod,  accompanied  by  Captain  John  Campbell  on  his 
right,  with  a  party  of  about  forty  of  the  swordsmen,  advanced  and 
at  the  bridge  was  challenged  by  one  of  the  sentinels  asking,  "Who  goes 
there?"  He  answered,  "A  friend."  "A  friend  of  whom?"  "To  the 
king."  Upon  this  the  sentinels  bowed  their  faces  down  to  the  ground. 
MacLeod,  thinking  they  might  be  some  of  his  own  command  who  had 
crossed  the  bridge,  challenged  them  in  Gaelic,  but  receiving  no  reply, 
fired  his  own  piece,  and  ordered  his  party  to  fire  also.  All  that  re- 
mained of  the  bridge  were  the  two  pine  sleepers,  stripped  of  their  bark 
and  well  greased. 

The  night  before  the  battle,  Colonel  Caswell  received  information 
of  the  contemplated  attack.  This  put  him  on  his  guard,  and  he  made 
his  arrangements  accordingly.  Lillington's  men  were  drawn  up  across 
the  peninsula,  and  lay  on  their  arms  all  night.  One  of  the  pieces  of 
artillery,  known  among  the  soldiers  as  "Mother  Covington,"  a  special 
favorite  of  the  men,  was  placed  in  a  position  to  command  the  bridge. 


BATTLE    OF    WIDOW    MOORE'S    CREEK    BRIDGE  59 

Colonel  MacLeod  and  Captain  Campbell  rushed  upon  the  sleepers 
of  the  bridge  and  succeeded  in  getting  over.  The  Highlanders  that 
followed  had  difficulty  in  keeping  on  the  sleepers,  some  supporting 
themselves  by  thrusting  their  swords  into  the  logs,  and  others  falling 
into  the  muddy  stream  below.  Lillington  gave  the  command  to  fire, 
and  the  musketry  swept  the  bridge.  At  last  "Mother  Covington"  let 
go,  with  terrible  effect.  MacLeod  was  mortally  wounded,  but  was 
seen  to  rise  repeatedly  from  the  ground,  waving  his  sword  and  en- 
couraging his  men  to  come  on,  until  twenty-six  balls  had  penetrated 
his  body.  Campbell  was  shot  dead,  and  at  the  same  moment  a  party 
of  militia  under  Lieutenant  Ezekiel  Slocum,  who  had  forded  the  creek 
and  penetrated  a  swamp  on  its  western  bank,  fell  suddenly  upon  the 
rear  of  the  royalists.  The  loss  of  their  leader,  and  the  unexpected 
attack  upon  the  rear,  threw  them  into  confusion,  when  all  broke  and 
fled. 

There  were  probably  twenty  who  got  over  the  bridge,  but  all  were 
killed  or  wounded,  all  of  whom  belonged  to  Campbell's  company. 
Among  them  were  Duncan  MacRae,  William  Stewart,  Kenneth  Mur- 
chison,  Laughlin  Bethune,  Murdoch  MacRae,  Alexander  Campbell, 
and  John  MacArthur,  of  whom  the  three  last  were  taken  to  Wilming- 
ton the  next  morning,  and  all  died  of  their  wounds  within  a  week. 
There  was  among  them  a  man  from  Cross  Creek,  by  the  name  of 
Campbell,  called  in  Gaelic  "Far-earst,"  who  by  a  desperate  kind  of 
valor,  rushed  over  the  bridge,  but  had  hardly  set  his  foot  on  the  ground 
when  his  body  was  literally  riddled  by  the  rifle  balls  and  he  fell  dead 
on  the  spot.  MacLean  survived  his  wound  and  in  after  life  became 
sedate  and  saddened  over  the  fate  of  MacLeod. 

The  Highlanders  lost  about  seventy  killed  and  wounded,  while  the 
patriots  had  none  killed  and  two  wounded,  one  of  whom  recovered. 
The  victory  was  complete,  decisive,  and  lasting,  for  the  power  of  the 
Highlanders  was  completely  broken.  There  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Americans  eight  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  fifteen  hundred  rifles,  all 
of  them  excellent  pieces,  three  hundred  and  fifty  guns  and  shot-bags, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  swords  and  dirks,  two  medicine  chests,  fresh  from 
England,  one  of  which  was  valued  at  £300  sterling,  thirteen  wagons 
with  horses,  which  proved  of  great  value  to  the  slender  supplies  of 


60  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

the  provincial  forces.  Besides  all  this,  there  was  found  secreted  in  a 
le  at  Cross  Creek,  a  box  of  guineas  amounting  to  $75,000. 
Some  of  the  Highlanders  escaped  from  the  field  of  carnage  by 
breaking  down  their  wagons  and  riding  away,  three  upon  a  horse. 
Many  of  those  taken  confessed  they  were  forced  and  persuaded  against 
their  inclinations  into  the  service.  All  the  soldiers  taken  were  dis- 
armed and  ordered  to  return  to  their  homes  immediately. 

The  American  officers  fully  realized  the  importance  of  capturing 
all  the  leaders,  for  then  the  Highlanders  would  remain  inactive  in  their 
homes.  Hence,  various  companies  were  sent  out  to  scour  the  country 
and  apprehend  every  one  who  held  rank  in  the  army.  On  the  follow- 
ing day  General  Donald  MacDonald  was  taken  prisoner.  He  was  sit- 
ting on  a  stump  and  as  his  captors  came  up,  he  waved  his  commission, 
perhaps  for  the  reason  of  being  identified  and  humanely  treated.  There 
is  a  tradition  that  some  of  his  soldiers  surrounded  his  tent,  and  in 
desperation  fought  in  his  defense  until  driven  off.  Nearly  all  the  chief 
men  were  taken  the  same  day,  including  Allen  MacDonald  of  Kings- 
burgh,  and  his  son,  Alexander. 

It  is  possible  that  this  account  may  fall  to  some  who  are  descended 
from  one  or  more  of  the  prisoners,  and,  to  others  related  .to  the  victors ; 
hence  the  completeness  of  this  victory  may  be  seen  by  giving  a  partial 
list  of  the  prisoners,  taken  from  a  report  of  the  committee  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  April  20  and  May  10,  on  the  guilt  of  the  Highland 
and  Regulator  officers  then  confined  in  the  jail  of  Halifax.  The  pri 
oners  were  divided  into  four  classes,  namely : 

First.    Prisoners  who  had  served  in  Congress. 

Second.    Prisoners  who  had  signed  Tests  or  Associations. 

Third.  Prisoners  who  had  been  in  arms  without  such  circum- 
stances. 

Fourth.     Prisoners  under  suspicious  circumstances. 

The  Highlanders  coming  under  these  various  designations  are 
given  in  the  following  order: 

Farquhard  Campbell,  Cumberland  county. 

Alexander  McKay,  capt.  of  thirty-eight  men,  Cumberland  county. 

Alexander  MacDonald  (Condrach),  Major  of  a  regiment. 

Alexander  Morrison,  Captain  of  a  company  of  thirty-five  men. 


BATTLE    OF    WIDOW    MOORE's    CREEK    BRIDGE  61 

Alexander  McDonald,  son  of  Kingsborough,  a  volunteer,  Anson 
county. 

James  McDonald,  Captain  of  a  company  of  twenty-five  men. 

Alexander  McLeod,  Captain  of  a  company  of  thirty-two  men. 

John  MacDonald,  Captain  of  a  company  of  forty  men. 

Alexander  McLeod,  Captain  of  a  company  of  sixteen  men. 

Murdoch  McAskell,  Captain  of  a  company  of  thirty-four  men. 

Alexander  McLeod,  Captain  of  a  company  of  sixteen  men. 

Angus  McDonald,  Captain  of  a  company  of  thirty  men. 

Neill  McArthur,  Freeholder  of  Cross  Creek,  Captain  of  a  com- 
pany of  fifty-five  men. 

Francis  Frazier,  Adjutant  to  General  McDonald's  Army. 

John  McLeod,  of  Cumberland  county,  Captain  of  a  company  of 
thirty-five  men. 

John  McKinzie,  of  Cumberland  county,  Captain  of  a  company  of 
forty-three  men. 

Kennith  MacDonald,  aid-de-camp  to  General  MacDonald. 

Murdoch  McLeod,  of  Anson  county,  Surgeon  to  General  Mac- 
Donald's  Army. 

Donald  McLeod,  of  Anson  county,  lieutenant  in  Captain  Morri- 
son's company. 

Norman  McLeod,  of  Anson  county,  ensign  in  James  McDon- 
ald's company. 

John  McLeod,  of  Anson  county,  lieutenant  in  James  McDon- 
ald's company. 

Laughlin  MacKinnon,  freeholder  in  Cumberland  county,  Lieu- 
tenant in  Col.  Rutherford's  corps. 

James  Munroe,  freeholder  in  Cumberland  county,  Lieutenant  in 
Captain  McRey's  company. 

Donald  Morrison,  Ensign  to  Captain  Morrison's  company. 

John  McLeod,  Ensign  to  Capt.  Morrison's  company. 

Archibald  M.cEachern,  Bladen  county.  Lieutenant  to  Capt.  Mc- 
Arthur's  company. 

Rory  McKinnon,  freeholder,  Anson  county,  volunteer. 

Donald  McLeod,  freeholder,  Cumberland  county,  Master  to  two 
regiments,  General  McDonald's  Army. 


62  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

Donald  Stuart,  Quarter  Master  to  Col.  Rutherford's  Regiment. 

Allen  MacDonald,  of  Kingsborough,  freeholder  of  Anson  county, 
Col.  of  Regiment. 

Duncan  St.  Clair. 

Daniel  McDaniel,  Lieutenant  to  Seymore  York's  company. 

Alexander  McRaw,  freeholder,  Anson  county,  Capt.  of  a  com- 
pany of  forty-seven  men. 

Kenneth  Stuart,  Lieutenant,  Capt.  Stuart's  company. 

Collin  A I  elver,  Lieutenant,  Capt.  Leggate's  company. 

Alexander  MacLaine,  Commissary  to  General  AlacDonald's  Army. 

Angus  Campbell,  Captain  of  a  company  of  thirty  men. 

Alexander  Stuart,  Captain  of  a  company  of  thirty  men. 

Hugh  AIcDonald,  Anson  county,  volunteer. 

John  AIcDonald.  common  soldier, 

Daniel  Cameron,  common  soldier. 

Daniel  McLean,  freeholder,  Cumberland  county.  Lieutenant  to 
Angus  Campbell's  company. 

Alalcolm  McNeill,  recruiting  agent  for  General  AlacDonald's 
Army,  accused  of  using  compulsion. 

Some  of  the  prisoners  were  discharged  soon  after  their  arrest,  by 
signing  a  proper  oath  not  to  bear  arms  against  the  United  States. 

A'lost  of  the  prominent  characters  among  both  the  Highlanders 
and  Regulators,  some  of  whom  had  not  been  in  the  battle,  but  con- 
sidered to  be  dangerous  to  the  best  interests  of  the  province,  were 
made  prisoners  and  remanded  for  trial.  Among  these  were  Thomas 
Rutherford  and  Farquhard  Campbell,  men  of  intelligence,  wealth,  and 
influence.  Both  were  members  of  the  first  convention  of  August  25, 
1774;  members  of  the  second  convention,  signed  the  articles  of  Asso- 
ciation, April  3,  1775;  members  of  the  first  Congress  which  met  in 
August,  1775.  Their  voles  were  in  unison  with  the  rest,  but  all  the 
time  kept  up  a  good  understanding  with  the  royalists.  For  a  day  or 
two  before  the  battle  at  Moore's  Creek,  Campbell  was  with  General 
MacDonald  giving  information  ami  advice,  and  the  next  day  with 
Caswell  for  the  same  purpose,  and  was  actually  present  with  him  dur- 
ing the  engagement,  making  suggestions  and  pretending  a  deep  interest 
in  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 


BATTLE    OF    WIDOW    MOORE'S    CREEK    BRIDGE  63 

There  are  still  many  interesting  incidents  detailed  concerning  the 
flight  of  some  who  took  part  in  the  battle.  There  were  others  which 
taught  the  Americans  to  be  constantly  on  their  guard.  Among  those 
narrated  is  the  action  of  Colonel  Reid  and  Captain  Cunningham,  who, 
with  a  party  of  fourteen,  after  the  battle,  surprised  a  company  of  pro- 
vincials at  Cross  Creek,  disarmed  them  and  then  made  their  way  to 
Fort  Johnson. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Results  of  the  Battle. 

It  is  the  design  not  to  enter  into  a  free  discussion  of  the  important 
results  accruing  from  the  defeat  of  the  Highlanders  at  Moore's  Creek, 
nor  follow  up  details  of  acts,  however  interesting  they  may  be.  There 
are  certain  historical  matters  which  should  be  adverted  to.  As  this 
battle  was  the  first  fought  on  North  Carolina  soil  during  the  American 
Revolution,  it  would  have  results  that  might  be  far-reaching  in  their 
consequences. 

On  the  Americans  the  victory  had  a  most  potent  effect.  It  ani- 
mated them  with  hope,  established  confidence,  increased  valor,  and 
kindled  the  flames  of  patriotism.  An  enthusiastic  patriot,  writing  under 
date  of  March  10,  1776,  says:  "It  is  inconceivable  to  imagine  what  joy 
this  event  has  diffused  through  this  province ;  the  importance  of  which 
is  heightened  by  Clinton  and  Lord  William  Campbell's  being  now  in 
Cape  Fear.  How  amazingly  mortified  must  they  prove  in  finding  that 
this  weak,  poor,  and  insignificant  Carolina,  in  less  than  fifteen  days, 
could  turn  out  more  than  ten  thousand  independent  gentlemen  volun- 
teers, and  within  that  time  pursue  them  to  the  very  scene  of  action. 
Since  I  was  born  I  never  heard  so  universal  an  ardor  for  fighting 
prevail  and  so  perfect  a  union  among  all  classes  of  men." 

True  to  their  profession,  the  leaders  of  the  patriots  determined  to 
treat  the  Highlanders  in  general  with  the  utmost  consideration.  This 
fact  Stedman  clearly  recognizes,  for  he  records  that  Colonel  Moore  and 
Colonel  Caswell  "behaved  with  great  leniency  and  moderation  towards 
the  loyalists  while  they  continued  in  power." 

The  defeat  of  this  army  disconcerted  the  plans  of  Governor  Martin, 
but  he  adhered  to  the  idea  that  if  a  considerable  force  should  penetrate 
into  the  interior,  thousands  of  loyalists  would  flock  to  the  royal  stan- 
dard. Even  Cornwallis  showed  the  same  idea  as  late  as  1781,  when 
he  marched  his  army  into  Cross  Creek.  The  loyalists,  though  dis- 
ci 


RESULTS    OF   THE   BATTLE  65 

heartened,  generally  remained  faithful  to  the  crown,  but  disarmed  and 
deprived  of  their  leaders,  the  Highlanders  had  not  the  heart  again 
to  enter  the  army.  They  had  also  taken  a  parole  which  nearly  all  kept 
inviolate. 

During  the  whole  course  of  the  war,  the  Highlanders  were  re- 
garded with  suspicion,  probably  caused  by  unruly  spirits  among  them. 
The  Americans  did  not  rest  matters  simply  by  confining  the  officers, 
but  every  precaution  was  taken  to  overcome  them,  not  only  by  their 
parole,  but  also  by  armed  force,  for  a  militia  company  at  once  was 
stationed  at  Cross  Creek  until  November  21.  On  July  28,  1777,  it 
was  reported  that  the  royalists  were  in  motion,  which  aroused  the 
Americans  to  arms  and  a  vigilant  watch  was  kept  over  those  at  Cross 
Creek.  So,  also,  the  Highlanders  were  kept  in  alarm.  In  June,  1776, 
it  was  reported  among  them  that  a  company  of  light  horse  was  coming 
into  the  settlement,  and  every  one  thought  he  was  the  man  wanted,  and 
hence  all  hurried  to  the  swamps  and  other  fastnesses  in  the  forest. 
From  the  poor  Highland  women,  who  had  lost  father,  husband,  brothers 
in  battle,  or  whose  men-folk  were  imprisoned  in  the  jail  at  Halifax 
there  went  up  such  a  wail  of  distress  as  to  cause  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  put  forth  a  proclamation,  ordered  to  be  printed  into  the 
"Erse  tongue,"  in  which  it  was  declared  that  they  "warred  not  with 
those  helpless  females,  but  sympathized  with  them  in  their  sorrow," 
and  recommended  them  to  the  "bounty  of  those  who  had  aught  to  spare 
from  their  necessities." 

The  district  in  which  the  Highlanders  were  settled  was  in  a  tu- 
mult for  some  time  after  the  battle  at  Moore's  Creek.  Colonel  Cas- 
well marched  through  the  district,  but  allowed  no  violence,  trying 
in  all  cases  to  be  just.  But  there  were  independent  parties  who  com- 
mitted outrages,  of  which  the  legal  officers  were  guiltless.  There  was 
much  suffering  caused  by  the  lawless.  These  inhuman  acts  were  de- 
plored by  all  the  better  class,  but  owing  to  the  disordered  state  of 
society,  such  things  were  often  beyond  their  control.  Then  the  peo- 
ple were  aggravated  by  the  acts  of  British  agents  who  kept  up  the 
turmoil.  Hector  MacNeill  and  Archibald  Douglas,  of  the  British  army, 
came  into  the  district  and  tried  to  exert  an  influence  over  the  people, 
declaring  the  British  had  money  to  any  amount ;  that  they  would  con- 


66  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

quer  the  country,  and  that  the  Scotch  would  be  handsomely  rewarded 
if  found  on  the  king's  side.  Again  the  Highlanders  began  to  embody, 
and  from  that  time  until  the  close  of  the  war,  the  country  presented  a 
terrible  scene  of  bloodshed,  devastation,  and  ruin. 

From  the  opening  to  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  there  were  High- 
landers in  North  Carolina  enrolled  in  both  the  contending  forces.  Those 
on  the  British  side  were  mostly  recent  emigrants,  the  bulk  of  whom 
were  not  familiar  with  the  English  language.  Some,  however,  were 
with  the  patriots,  and  fought  with  Marion  and  other  commanders. 
Those  Highlanders  belonging  to  earlier  emigrations  were  principally 
loyal  to  their  adopted  country.  The  contentions  of  the  same  race, 
each  party  striving  for  mastery  would  naturally  provoke  the  most  severe 
animosities. 

The  act  of  the  insurgents  of  1776  enrolled  in  General  MacDonald's 
army  is  sometimes  called  "The  Insurrection  of  the  MacDonalds."  Dur- 
ing and  after  the  war  these  people,  to  a  great  number,  withdrew  from 
the  State,  some  returning  to  Scotland,  and  others  settled  in  Nova 
Scotia. 

It  will  not  be  necessary,  in  this  connection,  to  follow  the  history 
of  the  officers  imprisoned  in  Halifax  jail.  I  have  already  done  that 
in  my  Scotch  Highlanders  in  America.  However  we  must  present  the 
final  struggles  of  Allen  and  Flora  MacDonald. 

With  other  captured  officers,  Allen  was  closely  confined  in  the 
jail  at  Halifax.  On  April  11,  1776,  the  North  Carolina  Provincial 
Congress  resolved  that  Allen  be  admitted  to  his  parole ;  that  he  should 
not  go  without  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Halifax ;  that  he  should  not 
correspond  with  any  person  who  is  inimical  to  American  interests;  that 
he  shall  not  convey  intelligence  to  such  person ;  that  he  will  take  no 
plans  or  drafts  while  on  parole,  and  that  every  day  between  the  hours 
of  ten  and  twelve  o'clock  he  shall  report  to  the  officer  of  the  guard. 

According  to  a  letter  dated  April  22,  1776,  General  Donald  Mac- 
Donald,  Colonel  Allen  MacDonald  of  Kingsburgh,  his  son,  Alexander, 
Major  Alexander  MacDonald,  besides  fifteen  captains,  one  lieutenant, 
and  five  minor  officers,  including  the  chaplain,  Rev.  John  Bethune,  all 
of  the  Highland  army,  were  sent  prisoners  to  Philadelphia. 


RESULTS    OF   THE    BATTLE  67 

On  the  way  from  North  Carolina  to  Philadelphia,  while  resting  at 
Petersburg,  May  2,  1776,  Kingsburgh  wrote  the  following  letter: 

Sir:  Your  kind  favor  I  had  by  Mr.  Ugin  ( ?),  with  the  Virginian 
money  enclosed,  which  shall  be  paid  if  ever  I  return,  with  thanks ;  if 
not,  I  shall  take  to  order  payment.  Colonel  Eliot  who  came  here 
to  receive  the  prisoners  Confined  the  General  and  me  under  a  guard  and 
sentries  to  a  Room ;  this  he  imputes  to  the  Congress  of  North  Carolina 
not  letting  Brigadier  Lewes  (who  commands  at  Williamsburg)  know 
of  our  being  on  parole  by  your  permission  when  at  Halifax.  If  any 
opportunity  afford,  it  would  add  to  our  happiness  to  write  something 
to  the  above  purpose  to  some  of  the  Congress  here  with  directions  (if 
such  can  be  done)  to  forward  said  orders  after  us.  I  have  also  been  de- 
pressed of  the  horse  I  held,  and  hath  little  chance  of  getting  another. 
To  walk  on  foot  is  what  I  never  can  do  the  length  of  Philadelphia. 
What  you  can  do  in  the  above  different  affairs  will  be  adding  to  your 
former  favors.  Hoping  you  will  pardon  freedom,  wrote  in  a  hurry. 
I  am  with  real  Esteem  and  respect,  Honorable  Sir,  your  very  obedient 
servt.  Allen  MacDonald. 

On  June  28,  Kingsburgh  was  permitted,  after  signing  a  parole  and 
word  of  honor,  to  go  to  Reading,  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania.  At 
the  same  time  the  Committee  of  Safety 

"Resolved,  That  such  Prisoners  from  North  Carolina  as  choose, 
may  be  permitted  to  write  to  their  friends  there ;  such  letters  to  be  in- 
spected by  this  Committee,  and  the  jailer  is  to  take  care  that  all  the 
paper  delivered  in  to  the  Prisoners  be  used  in  such  Letters,  or  returned 
him." 

The  action  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  was  approved  by  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  which,  on  July  9,  1776,  "Resolved,  That  the  com- 
mittee of  safety  of  Pennsylvania  release  Allan  McDonald,  of  Kings- 
borough,  a  prisoner  in  the  gaol  of  Philadelphia,  on  his  parole,  and  that, 
upon  his  signing  his  parole,  he  be  treated  agreeable  to  former  resolu- 
tions of  Congress."  His  son  was  ordered  released  by  Congress  on  the 
fifteenth  by  the  following  resolution :  "Resolved,  That  Alexander  Mc- 
Donald, son  of  Captain  McDonald,  be  liberated  on  his  parole,  and 
allowed  to  reside  with  his  father." 

On  September  25,  the  Continental  Congress  received  a  report 
from  the  Committee  on  the  Treasury,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  there 
is  due  "to  Colonel  Allen  McDonald  of  Kingsborough,  and  his  son,  Alex- 


68  FLORA    MACDONALD   IN    AMERICA 

ander  McDonald,  for  their  allowance  of  two  dollars  per  week  for 
21  weeks,  and  for  their  servants'  allowance,  21  weeks,  at  one  dollar 
per  week,  settled  to  the  17th  September,  105  dollars." 

The  time  when  Allen  MacDonald  was  removed  from  Philadelphia 
to  Reading,  I  have  riot  been  able  to  determine.  He  was  removed  to 
the  latter  place,  where  were  confined  Allen  MacDonald,  Sr.,  Allen  Mac- 
Donald,  Jr.,  Alexander  MacDonald,  Rennel  MacDonald,  and  Archibald 
MacDonald,  hostages  from  the  Mohawk  settlement,  sent  there  by  Gen- 
eral Philip  Schuyler.  , 

On  April  10,  1777.  Congress  received  the  following  petition  from 
Allen  MacDonald: 

The  Petition  of  Capt:  Allen  McDonald  of  Kingsburgh,  to  John 
Hancock  Esquire,  in  Congress. — Humbly  Sheweth — 

That  whereas  your  Petitioner  and  Son,  are  now  nigh  fourteen 
Months  Prisoners  of  War,  and  were  above  four  Months  of  those,  in 
close  confinement,  removed  from  one  Gaol,  to  another,  and  different 
places  of  confinement,  in  North  Carolina  Virginia,  &  Maryland,  till  they 
arrived  in  Philadelphia,  from  there — they  were  adqiitted  on  Parole,  to 
reside  at  Riading,  in  the  County  of  P>erks,  where  they  now  are.  From 
whence  I  am  hopefull,  it  will  be  certified  by  his  Excellency  General 
Mifflin,  Commanding  Officer  there  and  the  County  Committee,  that  they 
kept  closs  to  their  Parole,  without  giving  the  smalest  offence  to  any 
person  whatever — 

Your  Petitioner  begs  leave  further  to  observe,  that  Provision — 
Drink,  Lodging,  Cloathing,  and  in  short  every  thing,  is  so  extrava- 
gantly high  priced,  that  Prisoners  must  be  in  a  very  miserable  State, 
Two  Dollars,  the  common  allowance  pr.  Week,  being  of  greater  serv- 
ice, ten  Months  before  now,  than  Six  this  day — From  the  above  differ- 
ent circumstances ;  Your  Petitioner  expects,  you  will  exchange  him,  & 
Son  for  Officers  of  the  like  denomination,  or  order  them  to  New  York 
on  Parole,  till  duly  Exchanged. — And  in  complying  with  either  of  the 
above  requests ;  you  will  very  much  relieve  and  Oblige — 

Sir — Your  very  Humble  and  Obedient  Servant. 

Riading,  Aprile  5th,  1777.  Allen  McDonald. 

Petitioner  hath  not  received  even  the  small  allowance  of  Two  Dollars 
[word  omitted]  -eek,  for  himself,  Son  &  Servant,  from  the  30th  Decem- 
ber last —  [word  torn  off]  received  what  was  due  till  then,  from  his 
Excellency  General  Mifflin. 

Endorsement:  Petition.    Capt.  Allen  McDonald  of  Kingsburgh — Pris- 
oner on  Parole  in  Riading. — 


RESULTS    OF   THE   BATTLE  69 

10  April,  1777.  No.  8.     Petition  of  Allen  McDonnel 
read  10  April  1777 
referred  to  board  of  war 

On  June  10,  1777,  the  following  was  offered  in  Congress:  "That 
General  Washington  be  directed  to  propose  an  exchange  of  Lt.  Colonel 
Allan  McDonald  and  Lt.  Alexander  McDonald  for  such  officers  of 
equal  Rank  as  are  entitled  to  a  priority  of  Exchange." 

On  July  22,  1777,  Congress  received  the  following  from  "Alex- 
ander (Allen)  McDonald  of  Kingsborrow" : 

Sir  :  Some  time  passd,  I  petitioned  Congress  through  your  hands, 
in  regard  to  my  being  exchanged,  with  my  Son  ;  which,  His  Excelency 
General  Mifflin,  was  so  good,  as  deliver  you ;  Thereafter  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  here,  James  Reid  Esqr :  wrott  to  some  of  the  Mem- 
bers of  Congress,  that  the  voice  of  the  People  had  made  joice  of  Lt. 
Colonel  Lutes  [who  was  permited  to  come  home  on  Parole  by  His  Ex- 
celency Sir  William  Howe]  as  their  Colonell,  &  represented  me  as  the 
fittest  Person  to  be  Exchanged  for  him,  through  my  good  behaviour  & 
Strict  attention,  with  my  Son,  to  our  Parole  [as  they  were  pleased  to 
term  it]  since  we  came  here — No  return  being  made  to  this,  The  whole 
Officers  of  the  4th :  Battalion  of  Pensylvania  Militia  in  a  Body  Signed 
a  Petition  to  Congress,  praying  Colonell  Lutes  being  released  from  the 
Secret  tyes  of  his  Parole,  by  exchanging  him  for  me,  for  the  above 
reasons,  What,  success  this  last  Petition  had,  I  have  not  yet  learned, 
tho  I  fear,  it  shaired  the  same  fate  with  the  former — Now  Sir,  permit 
me  to  say ;  when  you'll  know,  the  dispersed,  and  distress't  state  of  my 
family,  you  will,  at  least  sympathize  with  me,  and  pity  my  oppress'd 
mind.  I  am  here  with  one  of  my  Sons  Seventeen  months  a  Prisoner — 
My  Wife  is  in  North  Carolina  700  Miles  from  me  in  a  very  sickly 
tender  State  of  health,  with  a  younger  Son,  a  Daughter,  &  four  Grand 
Children — Two  Sons  in  our  Service  of  whom,  I  heared  little  or  noth- 
ing, since  one  of  them  had  been  wounded  in  the  Battle  of  Bunkers  hill 
— And  two  in  Britain,  of  whom  I  heared  no  accounts  since  I  left  it — 
Them  in  Carolina  I  can  be  of  no  service  to  in  my  present  state,  but 
were  I  Exchanged,  I  would  be  of  service  to  the  rest  if  in  life,  If  not, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  Almighty  my  mind  wou'd  be  fix'd — Now  Sir, 
let  me  further  tell  you,  I  am  a  Captain  in  the  Regular  Service,  &  my 
Son  a  Lieutenant,  I  rank  as  Lieut.  Colonel  of  Militia  in  North  Caro- 
lina;  in  this  station  I  was  made  Prisoner,  and  I  am  convinced  Sir 
William  Howe  will  Exchange  me  in  either  of  those  Ranks — if  not — I 
hereby  binde  my  honor,  my  Character,  &  even  my  life,  I,  and  my  Son 
will  returne — if  Colonell  Lutes  is  not  to  be  exchanged,  fix  on  whome 


\ 


70  FLORA    MACDOXALD    IN    AMERICA 

you  please  of  equal  Rank.  &  a  Lieut:  for  my  Son;  let  me  bring  their 
names  to  General  Howe  &  if  they  are  not  sent,  we  will  upon  Honour,  & 
Conscience,  return  to  our  former  Parole — Here  is  Capt.  Graydon  of 
your  regular  Service  come  home  with  some  other  Gentlemen  on  Parole. 
Could  not  lie  be  exchanged  for  me.  &  some  Lieut:  you  please  for  my 
Son — Hopeing  you'll  pardon  the  anguish  of  an  uneasy  mind,  and  con- 
tribute to  its  relief,  which  is  but  Charity — I  am  with  Respect  Sir — 

Your  Very  Humble — 
and  Obedient  Servant — 
Riading  July  18th  Allen  McDonald  of  Kingsborrow 

1777 

To— 
Address :  The  Honble.     John  Hancock  President — 

of  the  Continental  Congress — 
Philadelphia — 

Endorsement :  Letter  from  Alex.  McDonald 
of  Kingsborrow  18  July  1777 
read  22 

referred  to  the  board  of  war 
reported  upon 

On  August  7,  1777,  Congress  received  a  report  from  the  Auditor 
General,  in  which  he  states  "that  there  is  due  to  Allan  McDonald,  his 
son  and  servant,  for  their  allowance  as  prisoners,  from  the  18  Septem- 
ber, 1776,  to  the  5  August,  1777,  being  46  weeks,  the  sum  of  230 
dollars." 

Attempts  were  made  to  exchange  the  Highland  prisoners  on  the 
part  of  General  Washington,  and  others  in  authority,  but  as  the  cap- 
tives were  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  no  one  to  intercede  for  them 
among  those  at  British  headquarters,  on  August  21,  1777,  Congress,  in 
passing  upon  a  report  from  the  Board  of  War,  "Resolved,  That  Allan 
McDonald,  of  Kingsborough,  North  Carolina,  a  captain  in  the  British 
regular  service,  be  permitted  to  go  into  New  York  to  negotiate  an 
exchange  for  himself  and  his  son,  a  lieutenant  in  the  same  service ; 
he  to  give  his  parole  not  to  convey  to  the  enemy  or  bring  back  any  intel- 
ligence whatever  of  a  political  nature,  and  to  return  in  a  certain  time 
to  be  fixed  by  his  parole  or  when  called  for,  on  behalf  of  the  United 
States." 

Kingsburgh  proceeded  to  New  York,  and  during   the  month  of 


RESULTS    OF   THE   BATTLE  71 

November  succeeded  in  effecting  his  exchange,  and  was  soon  placed  in 
command  of  a  company  of  provincials. 

From  the  "Letter-Book  of  Captain  Alexander  MacDonald  of  the 
Royal  Highland  Emigrants,"  we  catch  glimpses  of  Kingsburgh  and  his 
sons,  with  letters  directed  to  him,  here  given  in  full,  as  they  are  of 
interest  to  all  who  may  desire  to  know  of  Flora  MacDonald's  family : 

Halifax  (N.  S.)  18  Oct.,  1777. 
DR  Cousin  :  I  am  Extremely  happy  to  hear  that  you  &  Yr  Son 
were  safe  at  New  York.  I  hope  to  have  the  further  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  both  soon  here  in  Case  you  should  have  Occasion  or  be  at  a  loss 
for  want  of  money  I  send  you  Inclosed  the  State  of  your  Accot.  from 
wch  you  can  see  how  much  you  may  Venture  to  draw  for.  If  Major 
Donald  McDonald*  is  there  yet  pray  give  him  my  kind  Compts.  I  should 
have  wrote  him  long  before  now  if  I  did  not  think  he  had  Gone  to 
England  when  Gen1  McLean  left  that  place.  I  have  seen  a  pretty  lad 
here  a  Son  of  his  Lt.  of  Marines.  You  may  tell  him  he  was  very  well 
and  Expected  soon  to  be  in  England.  I  dare  say  Ronald  will  write  to 
you  by  this  Opportunity  they  are  very  happy  at  the  thoughts  of  Seeing 
you  soon  &  for  Gods  Sake  don't  Stay  long  Come  to  us  before  the 
Winter  sets  in  &  bring  all  the  fine  fellows  you  possibly  can  get  along 
with  you  but  dont  venture  in  anything  less  than  a  frigate.  Give  my 
kind  Compts  to  Sandy  tho'  a  Stranger  &  am  Dr  Cousin. 

Yrs  Sincerely. 
(♦Brigadier-General  Donald  MacDonald,  who  commanded  in  North 
Carolina.) 

/  Halifax,  31st  Decr,  1777. 

DR  Cousin:  It  is  wth  Sincere  pleasure  &  Satisfaction  I  recd 
Yours  of  the  30th  November  Ult°.  You  have  surely  wrote  it  in  the 
Morning  Early  Else  St.  Andrew  wd  have  prevented  the  pleasure  of 
my  receiving  a  Letter  from  you  of  that  date  &  Nothing  can  give  me 
greater  pleasure  than  to  hear  of  you  &  Your  Son  being  Safe  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  Rebels.  I  am  also  happy  to  hear  of  Mrs.  Macdonald's 
Well  fare  and  her  Spirited  behaviour  when  bro1  before  the  Committee 
of  Rascals  in  North  Carolina. 

I  don't  doubt  but  She  &  the  Other  Gentlewomen  there  will  be 
sorely  oppressed  by  the  Savage  Cruelty  of  those  Wretches  who  at 
present  has  the  Upper  hand  of  them  Tho'  they  may  Sorely  repent  it  be- 
fore this  War  is  at  an  End. 

I  had  rather  you  was  here  at  the  head  of  your  own  Company  in 
our  Regiment  than  Commanding  a  Corny  of  Provincials  wch  as  we 
have  a  great  many  Enemys  may  be  made  a  handle  of  to  hinder  our 


/2  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

Establishment.  Major  Small  who  goes  by  this  Opportunity  will  talk 
to  you  more  fully  on  this  Subject.  The  Rank  of  the  Officers  of  this 
Regm1  is  already  settled  by  Major  Small  &  the  rest  of  the  Officers 
present  upon  the  Spot.  How  far  the  Commission  you  speak  of  will 
avail  you  I  do  not  know  but  I  think  Sandy  McLeod  B  :M :  did  try  to 
get  rank  from  it  when  Frazier's  Regim1  was  raised  last  War  but  I  be- 
lieve Was  refused  however  You'll  be  in  the  right  to  try  it  if  ever  the 
Regim*  be  established  if  not  it  will  not  be  worth  your  trouble. 

I  have  all  your  Subsistance  from  the  Date  of  your  Commission  to 
the  24th  Feby,  1778,  also  your  arrears  and  what  Bag  &  fforage  money 
has  been  allowed  Since  as  the  inclosed  abstracts  will  Show,  Your 
Son  Sandys,  as  well  as-  your  own  for  which  Sums  or  whate  part  of 
them  you  plese  you  and  Sandy  May  Draw  if  you  have  not  Drawn  on 
me  Allreadv  to  the  amount  of  the  Ballances  in  yours  favours.  You 
See  I  have  Pay'd  Some  money  on  your  account  to  Capt.  Murdock  Mc- 
Lean but  Should  it  not  be  agreeable  to  you  I  have  it  still  in  my  Power 
to  recharge  the  Same  to  Cap1  McLaine,  as  he  has  a  Chance  to  See 
you  soon  you  will  Settle  matters  and  let  me  know.  I  would  not  advise 
you  to  venture  here  but  in  a  man  of  warr  and  I  assure  you  I  think 
this  part  of  British  America  the  happiest  Spot  in  it  at  present  and 
would  be  very  liapie  to  see  you  and  all  the  othere  officers  of  our  Corpts 
here  with  all  Giver  ffellows  of  recruits  you  can  Bring  with  you — we 
want  about  85  to  Compleat  but  we  Expect  a  Great  Manney  from  New- 
foundland and  from  your  Endeavours — I  hope  Major  Small  will  Sende 
Cap1  Alex1"  Campbell  to  joine  his  Company  or  Oblidge  him  to  Quitt, 
which  I  Darr  Saie  he  will  do  for  a  triffle  and  I  hope  in  that  Case  you 
will  secure  it  for  Sandy  being  the  2d  oldest  Lieutt  If  there  is  no 
Certainty  of  our  Establishment  I  am  convinced  Campbell  will  Rathere 
Give  up  the  Company  for  Nothing  rather  than  be  obliged  to  joine 
at  lest  would  be  Glad  to  take  one  or  two  hundered  pounds  for  it  I  mean 
the  Company  because  (indeed)  I  would  not  think  Safe  to  pay  above 
one  years  purchass  for  it  tho'  I  would  be  Sory  that  any  body  Eles 
Should  purchass  overy  Sandys  head. 

As  Your  Son  Ranald  is  going  will  be  the  Bearer  of  this  I  need  not 
trouble  you  with  any  news  to  tell  the  truth  there  are  none,  only  he 
will  Give  you  a  Description  of  the  place  he  is  a  fine  young  ffellow  and 
will  inake  an  Excellent  Officer  if  he  lieves — You  tell  me  you  have 
contracted  a  Great  Deall  of  Debt,  I  Darr  Saie  you  must  have  lieved 
Expensive  but  it  is  high  time  now  my  Dear  Allan  to  Study  Oeconomv 
your  3  oldest  Sons  are  provided  for  Espetialy  if  this  Reg1  will  Estab- 
lish therefore  has  no  right  to  Expect  any  more  assistance  from  you, 
if  you  was  worth  ten  thousand  a  year  Except  when  a  purchass  Came 
in  their  way. 


RESULTS    OF   THE    BATTLE  73 

I  Darr  Saie  you  and  your  Vollunteers  make  a  formidable  figure 
in  the  Dress  you  have  Describ'd  to  Me  which  I  perfectly  understand 
all  but  the  cuteikins  which  I  take  to  be  half  Boots  or  Geatters. 

I  cannot  Give  you  the  lest  accot  of  Poor  Normand  Talisker 
Some  People  told  me  he  and  his  wife  went  home  what  to  do  there  God 
only  knows  I  Don't  know  that  I  felt  more  concerned  for  a  man  in 
my  life  than  I  have  for  him  Curse  the  Grogg  at  lest  too  much  of  it. 
I'm  hapy  to  hear  poor  John  McLean  and  Peggy  are  unmollested,  I 
wish  they  may  continue  so.  Pray  for  Godsake  is  it  possible  to  Gett 
Mrs.  McDonald  &  the  othere  poor  women  from  N.  Carolina — I  thought 
my  worthy  ffriende  Major  Donald  McDonald  had  Gone  to  England 
long  ago  if  this  findes  him  with  you  pray  offer  him  my  most  Humble 
respects. 

Bring  with  you  or  Sende  to  us  Some  Syder  &  Aples  of  the  Best 
Sort  if  they  can  be  Gote  if  you  can  go  with  Safety  to  Staten  island  I 
wish  you  would  be  so  Good  as  to  Sende  or  order  to  be  Sent  Some 
Negro  Chielderen  that  are  at  my  Blouse  as  their  Mothere  is  Dead, 
unless  you  finde  matters  are  like  to  be  Sattled  in  which  case  I  would 
let  them  Stay  where  they  are  I  again  wish  we  were  alltogethere  as  the 
more  we  are  in  one  place  the  more  respectable  our  appearance  wish- 
ing you  and  all  ffriends  the  complments  of  the  Season  and  with  Mrs. 
McDonald's  and  my  kinde  wishes  for  every  thing  that  can  make  you 
Hapy  &  ever  I  am  with  Sincerity  and  truth  Dear  Cousin 

Yours  affectionatly 

A.  M.  D. 

The  third  letter  is  dated 

Halifax,  12th,  January,  1778. 
DR  Cousin  :  Since  my  last  of  the  31st  of  Decern1"  ult°  wch  will 
be  delivered  to  you  by  Your  Son  Ronald  who  from  some  hints  I  recd 
is  going  there  not  only  wth  Anxiety  to  see  you  but  with  some  other 
Views  to  get  you  to  lay  out  the  little  Money  you  have  in  my  hands 
in  purchasing  a  higher  Commission  for  himself  or  Charles  a  Manuvre 
I  wd  highly  approve  of  if  you  could  afford  it,  but  I  have  already  given 
a  hint  upon  this  head  &  I  again  tell  you  that  I  think  yr  three  sons 
extremely  well  provided  for  consigering  their  Age  especially  is  this 
Reg1  be  Established  as  I  hope  it  is  by  this  time.  Ronald  is  already 
in  a  very  good  corps  &  pretty  far  advanced  &  probably  may  have  a 
Chance  for  a  Company  before  this  work  is  at  an  End.  Charles  is  a 
fine  young  fellow  for  whom  I  have  the  Sincerest  regard  but  the  income 
of  a  General  Off1"  wd  be  rather  small  for  him,  if  he  could  get  it,  he 
is  very  Sensible  &  very  Clever  when  Sober  but  rather  unhappy  when 
he  is  any  ways  disguised  in  Liquor  but  yr  presence  here  might  be  the 


74  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

means  of  altering  him  &  putting  a  Stop  to  it.  These  Circumstances 
are  as  galling  to  me  to  relate  as  they  can  possibly  be  to  you  to  hear  them 
but  I  think  it  my  Duty  from  the  Sincerest  Friendship  to  acquaint  you 
with  them.  Were  so  near  Relations  indifferent  to  me  I  might  laugh 
as  others  do  and  pass  it  over  in  silence.  I  beg  You  \vd  not  let  Ronald 
or  Charles  know  any  part  of  this  intelligence  but  with  the  power  & 
authority  of  a  parent  Command  Ronald  at  his  peril  to  tell  you  the 
truth  of  all  he  knows  Concerning  Charles  &  his  Behaviour.  I  have 
nothing  earthly  to  lay  to  his  Charge  but  w*  the  Effects  of  Liquor  is 
the  Cause  of  &  a  propensity  to  Extravagance  wch  I  wish  to  God  he 
was  cured  of  As  no  man  has  a  right  to  Spend  more  than  his  income 
&  not  even  that  it  being  much  more  honorable  for  a  young  Offr  to 
have  a  Guinea  in  his  pocket  to  lend  to  his  Comrade  than  to  be  obliged 
to  borrow  one  from  him  &  I  beg  you  wd  keep  a  tight  hand  &  learn 
them  to  live  upon  their  pay  Especially  as  you  have  other  things  to  do 
with  Yr  money  &  other  people  to  provide  for.  In  Short  I  wish  you 
was  here  for  several  good  Reasons.  This  will  be  delivered  you  by 
your  old  acquaintance  Capt?  Murdk  McLean,  a  Sensible  facetious 
clever  honest  worthy  fellow.  As  its  Supposed  you  are  acquainted 
with  all  the  Scotch  folks  in  New  York  you  will  no  doubt  introduce 
Cap1  McLean  to  them  all- 
Wishing  you  a  Speedy  &  Safe  arrival  here  wth  great  Good  news 
from  the  Southward  I  remain  Dr  Cousin 

Yrs  Sincery. 

The  last  letter  is  dated 

Halifax,  19th  feb-v,  1778. 

The  above  is  a  Copy  wch  I  intended  to  send  by  Captn  Murdk 
McLane  but  he  departed  in  such  a  hurry  that  I  could  not  get  it  fin- 
ished. Since  wch  time  I  have  nothing  new  to  tell  you  only  the  De- 
parture of  our  worthy  Major  who  left  us  the  27th  of  January  &  hope 
is  now  Safe  in  London  where  he  will  insist  upon  the  fate  of  our  Regi- 
ment before  he  leaves  it.  So  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  two  months  will 
Satisfy  our  Anxiety  &  curiosity. 

I  sent  my  two  Eldest  boys  along  with  him  to  the  Care  of  Wm. 
Macdonald  of  Edinburgh  and  to  be  sent  to  the  Highlands  for  one  or 
two  Years  if  he  approves  of  it. 

I  furnished  your  Son  Ronald  with  five  half  Joannis  \vch  I  placed 
to  your  Ace1  as  he  expected  to  get  an  Order  from  you  for  that  purpose 
&  I  was  obliged  within  these  few  days  to  Accommodate  Charles  with 
above  £50  Sters  he  has  by  the  managem1  of  your  Compy  the  3  con- 
tingent wch  is  equal  to  £27.9  Sterg  a  year  &  £\0  paid  him  out  of 
your  Baggage  &  Forrage  Money  by  order  of  Major  Small.     If  all 


RESULTS    OF   THE   BATTLE  /  0 

this  is  not  Sufi1  to  Support  Chars  what  will  other  poor  Subalterns  do 
who  has  not  a  farthing  but  their  bare  subsistance. 

I  understand  that  Charles  and  Ronald  are  entirely  agft  your  Join- 
ing the  Regiment.  I  dont  know  w*  good  reason  they  can  have  for  it 
but  One  thing  I  am  sure  of  it 'is  absolutely  necessary  that  you  should 
be  as  near  them  as  possible  to  overawe  their  Conduct  &  assist  them 
with  your  good  Advice  &  without  you  clearly  see  that  you  can  do  bet- 
ter for  yourself  by  staying  where  you  are  I  \vd  earnestly  recommend 
it  to  you  to  Join  the  Reg1  as  soon  as  possible  with  all  the  Offrs  & 
Recruits  you  can  possibly  bring  along  with  you  As  well  for  the  above 
Reasons  as  for  the  Character  of  the  Regim1.  As  the  more  there  are 
together  of  us  the  more  Respectable  Appearance  we'll  make  &  of 
Course  the  better  Chance  we'll  have  to  compleat  our  wishes  of  Estab- 
lishment. 

T>ad  as  this  place  was  always  reckoned  This  certainly  the  Most 
peaceable  Corner  now  in  America  &  if  you  can  by  any  Means  obtain 
a  safe  Conduct  for  Mrs.  Macdonald  &  Mrs.  McLeod  you  might  order 
them  to  'follow  you  to  this  place. 

I  have  no  more  to  add  but  to  assure  you  that  I  am  Dr  Cousin 

Yr  Real  friend  &  hble  Servant. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Gen.  Francis  MacLean,  dated  Halifax, 
July  5,  1778,  Capt.  Alexander  Mac  Donald  speaks  of  a  letter  that  the 
former  had  sent  by  Allen  MacDonald,  but  the  last  named  had  not  yet 
arrived.  Reference  is  also  made  of  the  cash  advanced  by  Gen. 
MacLean  to  Allen  MacDonald  and  his  thirty  recruits.  The  last  ref- 
erence to  Kingsburgh  is  in  a  letter  dated  Halifax,  August  21,  1778,  in 
which  is  the  statement,  "If  Capt.  Murd.  McLean  or  Capt.  Allan  Mac- 
donald Should  be  there  (New  York)  tell  them  as  I  have  said  before 
it  is  very  surprizing  w*  keeps  them  there  that  I  will  Certainly  Stop 
their  Credit  from  receiving  any  more  money  if  they  dont  Join  the 
Reg1  or  Assign  Sufficient  Reasons  to  the  Contrary." 

Just  when  Kingsburgh  left  New  York  for  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia, 
I  am  unable  to  discover.  It  is,  however,  probable,  some  time  during 
the  autumn  of  1778.  He  joined  his  regiment,  the  eighty-fourth,  or 
Royal  Highland  Emigrant  Regiment,  Second  Battalion,  taking  com- 
mand of  the  Eighth  Company,  his  commission  dating  from  June  14, 
1775.  He  was  deprived  of  the  rank  assigned  him  by  Governor  Martin. 
The  Second  Battalion  was  commanded  by  Major  John  Small.  About 
the  close  of  1778,  the  regiment  received  Establishment.     The  uniform 


76  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

was  the  full  Highland  garb,  with  purses  made  of  raccoon  skins.  The 
officers  wore  the  broadsword  and  dirk,  and  the  men  a  half-basket 
sword.  That  part  remaining  in  Nova  Scotia  saw  but  little  service. 
Allen  MacDonald  remained  with  his  regiment,  without  seeing  any  par- 
ticular service,  until  its  reduction  in  1783,  when  he  returned  to  Skye, 
as  a  captain  on  half  pay.  ( )n  his  arrival  at  Portree,  he  was  met  by 
Flora,  with  a  numerous  party  of  friends,  to  welcome  him.  Immedi- 
ately he  set  out  for  the  estate  of  Kingsburgh,  which  during  his  ab- 
sence in  America,  had  been  left  open  for  his  return. 

As  already  noted,  the  son,  Alexander,  was  released  from  imprison- 
ment at  the  same  time  as  the  father,  and  the  two  proceeded  together  to 
New  York.  The  next  glimpse  of  Alexander  we  find  him  at  Fort 
Edward,  Nova  Scotia,  November  23,  1778.  The  next,  he  was  put  in 
command  of  the  prize  crew  on  board  the  Ville  de  Paris,  and,  together 
with  his  brother,  Ranald,  went  down  with  that  vessel,  October  5,  1782. 
How  Ranald  reached  the  army  I  am  not  informed.  It  seems  reason- 
able to  assume  he  was  not  at  the  battle  of  the  Widow  Moore's  Creek 
Bridge.  From  MacDonald's  "Letter  Book,"  it  appears  that  Charles 
received,  in  1776,  a  commission  of  lieutenant  from  Major  Small,  and 
was  warmly  recommended  by  Earl  Percy. 

MacKenzie,  in  his  History  of  tlie  MacDonalds,  states  that  Flora's 
son,  James,  was  "a  brave  officer,  who  served  with  distinction  in  Tarl- 
ton's  British  Legion,"  but  does  not  mention  the  part  performed  by 
John. 


CHAPTER    X. 

Final  Trials  of  Flora  MacDonald. 

Flora  MacDonald  was  soon  aroused  to  the  fact  that  the  battle 
was  disastrous  to  her  and  her  immediate  countrymen,  and  that  her 
husband,  a  son,  and  her  son-in-law  were  incarcerated  in  the  jail  at 
Halifax,  North  Carolina.  Woes  rapidly  crowded  upon  her,  all  of 
which,  in  the  spirit  of  a  true  heroine,  she  attempted  to  surmount.  She 
was  denied  the  privilege  of  visiting  her  husband  and  never  saw  him 
again  in  America. 

War  is  the  reverse  of  humanity.  Its  horrors  have  been  pictured 
by  the  ablest  pens.  It  arouses  all  the  baser  passions.  Fortunately 
there  are  redeeming  qualities.  There  are  characters  able  to  rise  pre- 
eminent. There  is  no  evidence  that  Flora  MacDonald  was  ever  bitter, 
vindictive,  or  unforgiving.  In  short,  her  character,  from  any  view- 
point, is  one  to  be  admired.  True,  she  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
on  the  war,  but  she  paid  the  penalty  without  a  murmur  and  without 
a  censure.  The  battle  at  Moore's  Creek  must  have  struck  a  knell  of 
woe  to  her  heart.  All  her  sons  were  in  the  British  service.  Her  only 
married  daughter,  Anne,  was  settled  in  a  house  of  her  own,  and  her 
daughter,  Fanny,  was  still  in  precarious  health  from  the  dregs  of  a 
recent  fever,  and  yet  too  young  to  sympathize  in  her  mother's  distress. 
The  revolution  around  her  was  rapid  and  changing;  plots  and  in- 
trigues various ;  alarms  constant,  and  every  passing  clay  placed  her 
in  a  position  where  her  mind  hovered  between  hope  and  fear.  Nor 
was  this  all.  She  was  an  object  of  suspicion,  and  her  every  movement 
was  noted.  Had  she  not  been  prominent  in  the  rising  of  the  Mac- 
Donalds?  Had  she  not  spoken  words  of  encouragement  to  and  ex- 
horted the  Highland  army  to  be  brave?  Was  it  not  reasonable  to 
conclude  that  her  interest  and  determination  were  still  the  same  ? 

It  would  be  but  reasonable  to  assume  that  Flora  MacDonald  should 
suffer  for  what  she  had  done,  when  the  war  spirit  was  dominant.    True, 

77 


78  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

she  was  not  arrested,  nor  imprisoned,  nor,  in  person,  was  she  molested. 
But  the  purported  evidence  against  her  was  so  great,  that  she  was 
summoned  before  the  Committee  of  Safety.  True  to  her  character, 
during  the  examination  she  is  said  to  have  exhibited  a  "spirited  be- 
havior." She  was  permitted  to  return  home  in  peace,  but  not  so  to 
remain,  for  war  produces  lawlessness.  Irresponsible  parties,  taking 
advantage  of  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs,  ravished  her  plantation  and 
pillaged  her  residence.  As  previously  noted,  her  estate  was  confiscated 
by  the  Act  of  November,  1777,  passed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  at 
Newbern,  when  she  sought  a  home  on  the  plantation  of  old  Kenneth 
Black.  If  any  person  was  seen  in  her  company  it  was  sufficient  evi- 
dence that  the  party  was  disloyal  to  the  cause  of  America.  Added  to 
all  her  misery  she  was  called  to  grieve  the  loss  of  a  son  and  a  daughter, 
who  died  of  typhus  fever,  aged  respectively  eleven  and  thirteen,  buried 
at  Killiegrey.  Their  names  have  not  been  preserved.  In  after  years 
the  kind-hearted  proprietor  of  Killiegrey,  Mr.  Gray,  fenced  in  the 
graves,  erected  a  small  monument  to  mark  the  spot,  and  cared  for  the 
same  up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  but  now  none  of  the 
older  citizens  residing  near  the  place,  know  anything  about  the  location 
of  the  graves. 

.Mistreatment  was  perpetrated  on  her  daughters.  Caruthers,  in 
his  Revolutionary  Incidents,  has  preserved  an  account  of  the  massacre 
at  Piney  Bottom,  a  branch  of  the  Rockfish.  Here  Colonel  Wade,  re- 
turning home  in  a  peaceable  manner,  with  a  few  men  to  guard  the 
families  with  him,  was  surprised  in  the  night  by  a  large  party  of  Tories, 
who  shot  down  five  or  six  and  then  plundered  the  camp.  Colonel  Wade 
immediately  collected  about  one  hundred  dragoons.  They  came  into 
Richmond  County,  caught  Daniel  Patterson  and  whipped  him  until 
he  gave  the  names  of  all  he  knew  who  were  at  Piney  Bottom.  In 
Moore  County  they  caught  quite  a  number  and  put  them  to  death. 
Some  of  the  party  came  to  old  Kenneth  Black's  house.  Both  doors 
being  open,  the  men  rode  in  until  it  was  full  of  horses,  and  the  family 
were  crowded  into  the  chimney.  Mr.  Black's  family  having  had  the 
smallpox,  two  daughters  of  Flora  MacDonald,  Mrs.  Anne  MacLeod 
and  Fanny,  came  over  to  see  their  friends;  "but,  to  their  utter  surprise. 
they  found  the  Whigs  there,  who  took  the  gold  rings  from  their  lingers 


■s.   5 

x  .3 


FINAL   TRIALS    OF    FLORA    MACDONALD  79 

and  the  silk  handkerchiefs  from  their  necks ;  then  putting  their  swords 
into  their  bosoms,  split  down  their  silk  dresses  and,  taking  them  out 
into  the  yard,  stripped  them  of  all  their  outer  clothing."  In  the  above 
account  Caruthers  has  his  date  wrong,  or  else  the  incident  confused 
with  another. 

Under  all  the  adverse  circumstances  Flora  continued  calm,  peace- 
ful, and  resigned  in  her  demeanor. 

Allen  MacDonald  managed  to  have  a  letter  delivered  to  Flora, 
in  which  he  advised  her  to  return  to  the  Isle  of  Skye.  It  was  her 
desire  to  remain  in  America,  though  in  distress  and  her  means  limited. 
She  decided  to  comply  with  her  husband's  desire,  and  leave  at  the 
earliest  opportunity.  Owing  to  the  scouts  of  the  patriots  it  was  a 
difficult  matter  to  leave  the  country.  But,  happening  to  be  at  a  social 
gathering,  she  met  Captain  Eben  Ingram,  an  American  officer,  to 
whom  she  narrated  her  difficulties.  He  promised  to  use  his  good 
offices  in  her  behalf,  and  soon  after  secured  her  a  passport  from  Cross 
Creek  to  Wilmington.  From  thence  she  secured  a  passage  by  vessel 
to  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

It  appears  to  be  well  established  that  in  order  to  secure  money 
to  defray  her  expense  she  sold  her  silverware.  A  silver  tray,  reputed 
to  have  been  used  for  that  purpose,  was  preserved  in  Wilson,  North 
Carolina.  Flora  possessed  a  very  large  and  handsome  set  of  silver, 
probably  presented  her  while  a  prisoner  in  London.  While  in  Wil- 
mington, perceiving  she  had  not  enough  money  for  her  journey,  she 
was  induced  to  part  with  it.  This  was  purchased  by  Richard  Quince. 
The  waiter,  bowl,  ladle,  and  cream  pitcher  are  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Justice,  of  Greensboro.  Several  other  pieces  are  owned  by  Mrs. 
Brooke  Empie,  of  Wilmington,  and  still  others  widely  distributed.  It 
would  appear  that  public  enterprise  would  place  all  in  the  State  museum 
at  Raleigh.  As  previously  noted,  Col.  James  MacQueen  contributed 
largely,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  others  rendered  financial 
assistance. 

Killiegrey  was  forcibly  wrenched  from  Flora  MacDonald,  and 
long  since  the  residence  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Upon  that  home  she 
had  built  her  hopes  and  there  anticipated  spending  her  declining  years. 
Whatever  may  have  been  her  misfortunes,  "her  name  is  still  held  in 


80  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

reverence  by  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  and  especially  by  those  who 
are  descended  from  the  Scotch  settlers  of  the  Cape  Fear  region.  The 
memory  of  the  Tory  beauty,  so  brave-hearted,  and  yet  so  gentle  and 
kind,  is  as  fragrant  as  the  pines  among  which  she  lived." 

In  1779,  accompanied  by  Fanny  alone,  still  in  ill  health,  of  all 
the  family,  Flora  MacDonald  left  Charleston  on  board  a  British  vessel. 
Crossing  the  Atlantic  the  Scottish  heroine  met  with  another  misfortune. 
The  sloop  in  which  she  sailed  encountered  a  French  war  vessel,  and  a 
contest  ensued.  During  the  engagement  Flora  refused  to  go  below, 
but  prominently  appeared  on  deck.  The  courage  of  the  men  appearing 
to  fail,  she  ascended  the  quarter-deck,  during  the  fiercest  of  the  battle . 
and  encouraged  them  to  more  desperate  conduct.  She  was  thrown 
violently  down  during  the  affray  and  her  left  arm  broken,  yet  she 
refused  to  leave  her  post,  and  continued  to  animate  the  sailors.  She 
never  left  the  deck  until  after  the  French  had  been  beaten  off.  In 
after  years  she  was  accustomed  to  say  that  she  had  fought  for  both  the 
House  of  Stewart  and  the  House  of  Hanover,  but  had  been  worsted  in 
the  service  of  each. 

On  arriving  in  Scotland  Flora  immediately  repaired  to  the  residence 
of  her  brother  in  Milton,  who  erected  for  her  a  cottage,  where  she  lived 
until  her  husband's  return.  Nothing  of  a  special  nature  occurred  dur- 
ing her  sojourn  at  Milton.  She  visited  her  friends  and  kept  up  quite 
a  correspondence  with  her  acquaintances.  Two  of  her  letters  have 
been  preserved,  addressed  to  the  lady  of  Sir  Alexander  Muir  Macken- 
zie, who  had  paid  great  attention  to  her  son,  Alexander,  when  he  was 
a  boy. 

The  first  is  as  follows : 

Dunvegan,  Skye,  12tfi  July,  17S0. 

Dear  Madam  :  I  arrived  in  Inverness  the  third  day  after  parting 
with  you,  in  good  health,  and  without  any  accidents,  which  I  always 
dread.  My  young  squire  continued  always  very  obliging  and  attentive 
to  me.  I  staid  at  Inverness  for  three  days.  I  had  the  good  luck  to 
meet  with  a  female  companion  from  that  to  Skye.  I  was  the  fourth 
day,  with  great  difficulty,  at  Raasay,  for  my  hands  being  so  pained 
with  the  riding. 

I  have  arrived  here  a  few  days  ago  with  my  young  daughter,  who 
promises  to  be  a  stout    Highland  "Caileag,"  quite  overgrown  of  her 


FINAL    TRIALS    OF    FLORA    MACDONALD  81 

age.     Nanny  and  her  family  are  well.     Her  husband  was  not  sailed 
the  last  account  she  had  from  him. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  upon  my  arrival  here,  that  I 
had  two  letters  from  my  husband,  the  latter  dated  10th  of  May.  He 
was  then  in  very  good  health,  and  informs  me  that  my  son  Charles 
has  got  the  command  of  a  troop  of  horse  in  Lord  Cathcart's  regiment ; 
but  alas !  I  have  heard  nothing  since  I  left  you  about  my  son  Sandy, 
which  you  may  be  sure,  gives  me  great  uneasiness.  But  I  still  hope 
for  the  best. 

By  public  and  private  news  I  hope  we  will  soon  have  peace  re- 
established, to  our  great  satisfaction,  which,  as  it's  a  thing  long  ex- 
pected and  wished  for,  will  be  for  the  utility  of  the  whole  nation, 
especially  to  poor  me,  that  has  my  all  engaged.  Fond  to  hear  news, 
and  yet  afraid  to  get  it. 

I  wait  here  till  a  favorable  opportunity  for  the  Long  Island  shall 
offer  itself.  As  I  am  upon  all  occasions  under  the  greatest  obligations 
to  you,  should  you  get  a  letter  from  my  son  Johnie  sooner  than  I 
would  get  one  from  him,  you  would  very  much  oblige  me  by  dropping 
in  a  few  lines  communicating  to  me  the  most  material  part  of  this 
letter. 

I  hope  you  and  the  ladies  of  your  family  will  accept  of  my  kindest 
respects,  and  I  ever  am,  with  esteem, 

Dear  Madam,  your  affectionate,  humble  servant, 

Flora  Macdonald. 

P.  S. — Please  direct  to  me,  to  Mrs.  Macdonald,  late  of  Kings- 
borrow,  South  Uist,  by  Dunvegan. 

To  Mrs.  Mackenzie  of  Delvine,  by  Dunkeld. 

The  second  letter  reads : 

Milton,  3rd  July,  1782. 

Dear  Madam  :  I  received  your  agreeable  favour  a  fortnight  ago, 
and  I  am  happy  to  find  that  your  health  is  not  worse  than  when  I  left 
you.  I  return  you  my  most  sincere  thanks  for  your  being  so  mindful 
of  me  as  to  send  me  the  agreeable  news  about  Johny's  arrival,  which 
relieved  me  of  a  great  deal  of  distress,  as  that  was  the  first  accounts 
I  had  of  him  since  he  sailed.  I  think,  poor  man,  he  has  been  very  lucky 
for  getting  into  bread  so  soon  after  landing.  I  had  a  letter  from  John 
which,  I  suppose,  came  by  the  same  conveyance  with  yours.  I  am  told 
by  others  that  it  will  be  in  his  power  now  to  show  his  talents,  as  being 
in  the  engineer's  department.  He  speaks  freely  of  the  advantages  he 
got  in  his  youth,  and  the  good  example  show'd  him,  which  I  hope 
will  keep  him  from  doing  anything  that  is  either  sinful  or  shameful. 

I  received  a  letter  from  Captain  Macdonald,  my  husband,  dated 


82  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

from  Halifax,  the  12th  Nov.  '81.  He  was  then  recovering  his  health, 
but  had  been  very  tender  for  some  time  before.  My  son,  Charles, 
is  a  captain  in  the  British  Legion,  and  James  a  lieutenant  in  the  same. 
They  are  both  in  New  York.  Ranald  is  captain  of  Marines,  and  was 
with  Rodney  at  the  taking  of  St.  Eustati.  As  for  my  son  Sandy,  who 
was  amissing,  I  had  accounts  of  his  being  carried  to  Lisbon,  but  noth- 
ing certain,  which  I  look  upon,  on  the  whole,  as  a  hearsay ;  but  the 
kindness  of  Providence  is  still  to  be  looked  upon,  as  I  have  no  reason 
to  complain,  as  God  has  been  pleased  to  spare  his  father  and  the  rest. 
I  am  now  in  my  brother's  house,  on  my  way  to  Skye,  to  attend  my 
daughter,  who  is  to  ly-in  August.  They  are  all  in  health  at  present. 
As  for  my  health  at  present,  it's  tolerable,  considering  my  anxious 
mind  and  distress  at  times. 

It  gives  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  to  hear  such  good  accounts 
of  young  Mr.  Mackenzie.  No  doubt  he  has  a  great  debt  to  pay  who 
represents  his  worthy  and  amiable  uncle.  I  hope  you  will  be  so  good 
as  remember  me  to  your  female  companions.  I  do  not  despair  of  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you  once  more,  if  peace  was  restored ;  and  I  am, 
dear  Madam,  with  respect  and  esteem,  your  affectionate  friend, 

Flora  Macdonald. 

Having  rejoined  her  husband,  immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
American  Revolution,  Flora  MacDonald  again  took  up  her  residence 
at  Kingsburgh  house,  where  she  continued  to  reside  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  March  5,  1790,  having  retained  till  the  last  vivacity  of 
character  and  amiableness  of  disposition,  by  which  she  was  distin- 
guished during  her  whole  life.  She  had  gone  to  a  friend's  house  at 
Peinduin,  in  her  usual  health,  to  pay  a  friendly  visit,  and  was  there 
taken  suddenly  ill  with  an  inflammatory  complaint  which  failed  to 
yield  to  such  medical  skill  as  was  available.  She  retained  all  her 
faculties  to  the  last,  and  calmly  departed  this  life  in  the  presence  of 
her  husband  and  two  daughters.  Her  remains  were  shrouded  in  one 
of  the  sheets  in  which  Prince  Charles  had  slept  at  the  mansion  of 
Kingsburgh.  During  all  her  travels  she  had  never  parted  with  this 
sheet.  She  took  it  with  her  to  North  Carolina,  and  had  it  in  safe  keep- 
ing when  her  own  person  was  in  danger.  At  her  own  request  all  that 
was  mortal  of  her  was  wrapped  in  it  by  her  sorrowing  family.  Under 
shade  of  night  her  body  was  conveyed  from  Peinduin  to  Kingsburgh, 
the  coffin  being  elevated  on  the  shoulders  of  a  party  of  stalwart  youths 
selected  for  the  purpose.     The  funeral  cortege  had  proceeded  but  a 


TOMB  OF  FLORA  MACDONALD 
The  monument  is  an  [ona  Cross  of  the  St.  Martin  Cross  type.  When  erected 
it  "a*,  the-  tallest  of  the  kind  in  existence,  it-,  height  being  28J4  feet.  A  gale  blew 
it  down  and  broke  off  ten  feel  of  it.  The  inscription  around  the  bevelled  edge  of 
the  Hat  stone  is  in  ornamental  litter-.,  as  follows:  Flora  Macdonald  born  at  Milton. 
South  Uisl  1722.  Died  at  Kingsburgh  Skye  Uh  Mar.  1790."  It  was  erected  by 
subscription.  There  is  a  memorial  window  to  Flora  MacDonald  in  St.  Columba 
Episcopal   Church,    Portree,   Skye. 


FINAL   TRIALS    OF    FLORA    MACDONALD  83 

short  distance  when  it  encountered  a  dreadful  storm.  The  night  was 
of  inky  darkness,  save  when  relieved  by  the  lightning's  red  glare.  The 
thunder  rolled  with  terrific  peals,  and  the  rain  fell  in  torrents. 
The  Hinisdale  was  swollen  from  bank  to  bank.  Some  proposed  to 
return,  but  others  declared  that  she  whose  body  they  were  carrying 
had  never  flinched,  when  alive,  from  any  duty  which  she  had  under- 
taken, neither  would  they  in  performing  the  last  rites  to  her  mortal 
remains.  It  was  agreed  to  attempt  to  cross  by  the  strand  near  the 
sea  beach,  which  was  effected  in  safety.  Having  reached  Kingsburgh, 
the  body  lay  in  state  for  nearly  a  week.  When  the  day  of  the  funeral 
arrived  several  thousand  consisting  of  every  rank  in  Skye  and  the 
adjacent  isles  assembled  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of  respect.  The  pro- 
cession was  a  mile  in  length,  and  started  at  an  early  hour  for  the 
church-yard  of  Kilmuir,  at  the  north  end  of  Skye,  sixteen  miles  distant. 

Both  Flora's  marriage  and  funeral  were  the  most  numerously 
attended  of  any  in  the  Western  Isles,  so  far  as  is  known.  About  a 
dozen  pipers  of  the  schools  of  MacCrimmon  and  MacArthur,  besides 
those  from  other  quarters,  were  present  and  simultaneously  played  the 
"Coronach,"  the  usual  melancholy  lament  for  departed  greatness. 

On  September  20,  1795,  Allen  MacDonald,  Seventh  of  Kings- 
burgh, departed  this  life.  He  is  buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  Flora, 
who  honored  him  with  her  heart,  and  for  forty  years  lavished  on  him 
all  the  wealth  and  all  the  generous  impulses  of  a  truly  noble  and  gen- 
erous nature. 

Over  the  grave  of  his  mother,  John  erected  a  marble  slab,  set  in 
a  frustom  frame,  but  it  was  cracked  in  unloading  it  from  the  vessel, 
and  in  that  state  was  set  up.  Within  a  few  months  tourists  had  chipped 
and  carried  every  particle  away.  By  public  subscription  a  costly  monu- 
ment, with  an  appropriate  inscription,  was  prepared.  It  is  in  the  form 
of  an  Iona  cross,  a  solid  monolith  of  Aberdeen  granite,  twenty-eight 
feet  high.  This  was  placed  at  the  grave,  but  failed  to  resist  the  blasts 
of  the  northern  winds.  It  was  upset  and  broken  in  two.  It  has  been 
partly  restored.  In  Inverness  is  a  monument  to  Flora's  memory.  It 
faces  toward  the  home  she  loved  so  well. 

To  Allen  and  Flora  MacDonald  were  born  ten  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  childhood,  but  names  not  given.     Charles  was  a  captain 


84  FLORA    MACDONALD    IN    AMERICA 

in  MacQueen's  Rangers ;  married,  without  issue.  Alexander,  an  officer 
in  the  Insurrection  of  the  MacDonalds,  afterwards  in  the  naval  serv- 
ice ;  went  down  in  the  Ville  de  Paris,  being  on  board  in  command  of  a 
prize  crew.  Never  married.  Ranald,  a  captain  of  marines ;  unmar- 
ried ;  lost  on  board  the  Ville  de  Paris.  James  served  with  distinction 
in  Tarleton's  Legion  ;  married  and  had  issue.  John  became  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  Royal  Clan  Alpine  Regiment,  and  Commandant  of  the 
Royal  Edinburgh  Artillery ;  married  and  had  issue.  Anne  married 
Major  Alexander  MacLeod,  in  1775,  and  had  issue.  In  1834  she  died 
and  was  buried  in  her  mother's  grave.  Frances,  or  Fanny,  married 
Lieutenant  Donald  MacDonald  of  Cuidrach,  Isle  of  Skye,  with  issue. 

"Honored  be  woman,  she  beams  on  our  sight, 
Graceful  and  fair,  like  a  being  of  light, 
She  scatters  around  her,  wherever  she  strays, 
Roses  of  bliss  on  our  thorn-covered  ways — 
Roses  of  Paradise  sent  from  above, 
To  be  gathered  and  twined  in  a  garland  of  love." 


STATUE   OF    FLORA   MACDONALD    ON    CASTLE   HILL.    INVERNESS 
This   monument    was   erected   at  the   expense   of   Capt.    T.    Henderson    MacDonald, 

a   direct   descendant    of   Flora,    at    a   cost   of   $5,000.      It    faces    Skye.      On   the    front   is 

the    inscription,    "]-"had's    a    dh'    fha    sas    flur    air    machair    Mairidh    clui    na    h-ainnir 

chaoimh." 

Translation   of   the   Gaelic  :    "As   long   as   a   flower    grows   in    field    the    fame   of   the 

gentle  lady   shall   endure." 

"The  "  preserver     of     Prince     Charles     Edward     will     be     mentioned     in     history     & 

if  courage   &   fidelity   be   virtues,    mentioned    with   honour." — Johnson. 


APPENDIX 


Note  A. 

Since  the  book  went  to  press  I  have  received  a  copy  of  the  Glasgow  Weekly 
Herald,  July  24,  1909,  and  in  it  a  correspondent  relates  a  recent  visit  to  Kilmuir 
churchyard,  and  therein  states:  "Entering  the  little  graveyard  I  found  myself 
wading  knee-deep  amongst  coarse  weeds  and  long  grasses,  with  which  the  whole 
place — with  the  exception  of  a  few  mounds — was  overgrown,  giving  it  an  air 
of  sadness  and  neglect,  which  even  the  brilliant  sunshine  could  not  dispel.  Very 
few  of  the  old  graves  had  any  headstones,  and  so  I  stumbled  about  for  a  while 
over  the  hidden  mounds,  being  unable  to  tell,  amid  the  tangle,  where  there  was 
a  grave  and  where  there  was  none.  Flora  MacDonald's  monument  stands  almost 
in  the  center  of  the  little  graveyard.  It  is  exposed  to  all  the  wild  winds  of 
winter,  and  has  at  one  time  been  supported  on  the  seaward  side  by  a  stout  bar 
of  iron ;  but  this  now  lies  detached  and  useless  upon  the  ground.  The  great 
stone,  however,  looked  strong  and  steadfast,  as  if  determined  to  defy  unaided 
the  wildest  storms  that  blow,  and  to  prove  itself  a  worthy  emblem  of  the  brave 
heart  which  lies  beneath  it." 

Note  B. 

It  may  be  well  to  note  that  the  first  subscriber  to  this  book  is  Miss  Jessie 
MacLean,  of  Greensboro,  North  Carolina;  the  second,  Mr.  Edward  L.  McClain, 
of  Greenfield,  Ohio,  and  the  third,  Mr.  James  A.  McAllister,  of  Lumberton, 
North  Carolina,  all  of  whom  have  been  deeply  interested  in  the  enterprise. 


